Political Party Funding Act to come into effect in April
President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Political Party
Funding Act, which will come into effect on 1 April 2021.
The Presidency confirmed the details on Friday morning.
Presidency spokesperson, Tyrone Seale, says the Act establishes funds to provide political parties represented in Parliament and legislatures with funding to undertake their work.
“It also requires that donations be disclosed by parties and donors to the Independent Electoral Commission.”
Furthermore, the Act will prohibit any donation to parties by foreign governments or agencies, foreign persons or entities, organs of state or state-owned enterprises.
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However, parties may receive funding from foreign entities for training, skills development or policy development.
“No member of a political party may receive a donation other than for political party purposes,” adds Seale.
This means that South Africans will for the first time in history have access to the way in which political parties who are represented in Parliament, are funded when the country heads to the polls for the municipal elections.
The date for the elections has not yet been determined, but it is expected to take place sometime between May and 31 August.