'ANC pushes through funding bill to boost finances ahead of elections'
Lester Kiewit speaks to Robyn Pasensie of MyVoteCounts about the impact of the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill, which will translate into more funding for large, cash-strapped parties such as the ANC.
Delegates at the ANC's 55th national elective conference on 17 December 2022. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
Non-governmental organisation My Vote Counts is concerned about proposed changes, so close to the national elections, to how political parties receive funding.
The financially-strapped African National Congress (ANC) is seeking to push through the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill, which would impact the allocation of the Represented Political Parties Fund.
Robyn Pasensie from My Vote Count explains how the fund works:
"Political parties and independent candidates, if elected, receive public money... one of the ways is through the Represented Political Parties Fund."
- Robyn Pasensie, Researcher - MyVoteCounts
"You need to be in either the national Parliament or in the provincial legislature... it's only for those who get voted into Parliament.'"
- Robyn Pasensie, Researcher - MyVoteCounts
According to the Electoral Commission of South Africa, the money disbursed by the fund may be used by that represented political party 'for any purpose compatible with its functioning as a political party in a modern democracy' including:
- the development of the political will of the people;
- bringing the political party’s influence to bear on the shaping of public opinion;
- inspiring and furthering political education;
The Bill seeks to change the allocation formula.
Previously it was disbursed on a proportional and equitable split, where two-thirds were given on a proportional basis and one-third on an equitable basis.
Under the proposed changes, this becomes a 90/10 split.
"What this means, effectivley, is an increase for the larger and more established parties."
- Robyn Pasensie, Researcher - MyVoteCounts
"There's a real political will to push this through before May 29, so that there should be an increase in terms of public funding , who gets what, before the elections."
- Robyn Pasensie, Researcher - MyVoteCounts
"What we are hoping to see is a multiparty democracy where you have political parties and indepedents who are able to equitably contest with larger parties."
- Robyn Pasensie, Researcher - MyVoteCounts
MyVoteCounts wants to guarantee 'mechanisms within the electoral system to ensure deeper accountability.'
South Africa goes to the polls on 29 May in what is likely to be the most transformative election since 1994.
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.