South Africa’s National Assembly approves Political Party Funding Bill
On 27 March 2018, South Africa’s National Assembly approved the Political Party Funding Bill (the Bill).
The objects of the Bill include to, amongst other things, to provide for and regulate the public and private funding of political parties; to prohibit certain donations made directly to political parties; and to regulate the disclosure of accepted donations.
Section 9 of the Bill contains the provisions on disclosure of donations. It provides that:
“(1) A political party must disclose to the [Electoral] Commission all donations received—
(a) above the prescribed threshold; and
(b) in the prescribed form and manner.
(2) A juristic person or entity that makes a donation above the threshold prescribed in terms of subsection (1)(a) must disclose that donation to the [Electoral] Commission in the prescribed form and manner.
(3) The Commission must publish the donations disclosed to it in terms of subsections (1) and (2)—
(a) on a quarterly basis; and
(b) in the prescribed form and manner.
(4) Nothing in this section detracts from rights given effect to by the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (Act No. 2 of 2000).”
The Bill will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for consideration.
The current draft of the Bill is accessible here.
The press release issued by Parliament is accessible here.
The report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Funding of Political Parties, dated 28 November 2017, is accessible here.
The report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Funding of Political Parties, dated 20 March 2018, is accessible here.
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