The issue of political party funding is a contentious topic that raises questions about fairness and representation in the democratic process.
In South Africa, the Political Party Funding Act specifies the criteria that parties must meet to qualify for public funding. However, many parties, especially those working locally, often lack financial support.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) political funding Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, George Mahlangu, responsible for the new political funding unit, said the unit’s establishment was a direct result of the Political Party Funding Act, which came into effect on April 1, 2021.
With KwaZulu-Natal being the fourth province the IEC has visited for its countrywide workshops, Mahlangu said they have been asked why certain political parties are not getting money from the public purse.
Mahlangu said Section 236 of the Constitution provides for this:
- To enhance multi-party democracy, national legislation must provide for the funding of political parties.
- Participating in national and provincial legislatures on an equitable and proportional basis.
“You can see from the Constitution that local government is excluded. Now, the Political Funding Act was set up to implement this provision of the Constitution,” Mahlangu said.
He said they are asked why political parties represented at the local level are not receiving money. This is the reason why political parties at that level are not getting funds.
“However, political parties that have representation at national and provincial legislatures, even at the local level, are likely to receive funding, because when we disperse these funds, we disperse them at the national level,” he explained.
“What does the national office does with its money, whether it shares this money with the regional offices, the provincial offices, or the local offices, we do not know.
“When you have a representation at the local level, be it an independent candidate, a ratepayers association political party, you are not going to get money from the public purse.”
Mahlangu further explained that the law applies to independent candidates and all political parties registered with the IEC.
“Reason being that there are sources that are prohibited, where you are not allowed to receive money from. You may be represented at the local level, but you may receive money from prohibited sources. You may receive donations from private sources.”
He said it was essential for parties to understand that they are the implementing agent — the messenger — for an Act of Parliament.
This legislation was assigned to the IEC for execution and is not a creation of the IEC. Consequently, they are tasked with implementing this law, including both its inherent flaws and merits.
He also said they impose fines on political parties that fail to follow this law. This is because they are enforcing an Act of Parliament, and the legislation mandates that they fine non-compliant political parties.
Mahlangu said he wanted to provide this context first so that the lack of allocated funds at certain levels is understandable.
“We’re sitting with more than 500 political parties registered with the commission. If we had to give each political party money, then I don’t know who was going to get what and how much,” Mahlangu said.
“For you to qualify to get money from the public purse, you must demonstrate first that you’ve got sufficient people who have voted for you.”
