Opposition parties warn of legal challenges to new electoral bill

CAPE TOWN - As political newcomers scrambled to meet Friday's deadline for participation in this year’s election, opposition parties in Parliament are warning of more legal challenges to a pending electoral bill, that will affect how much money they get from the state.

The Electoral Matters Amendment Bill must be passed before the May polls and is due to be considered by the National Assembly on Tuesday.

But opposition parties are crying foul, saying together with independent candidates, they will be on the losing end of the changes.

Introduced in Parliament in December, the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill makes provision for independent candidates also to declare their funding sources.

More controversially, it changes the formula in terms of which political parties represented in government, receive funding from the state.

It will also give the president the prerogative to determine the threshold for party donations.

In just three months the Home Affairs Committee says the bill is ready for final consideration by the House. But major opposition parties have all rejected the amended version.

This week opposition party whips called on the ANC to allow for more time to reach consensus.

"There is no doubt that there will be court action, soon after and possibly impact on the election" said the IFP’s Narend Singh.

Corne Mulder from the FF Plus said, "the whole attempt is to prevent any court action that could delay the process and I think if we do not rush this next week, there is some time."

The UDM’s Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said if the ANC is not willing to hear various opinions on the matter, they are more than willing to take the matter to court.

But ANC Chief Whip Pemmy Majodina said they are putting the cart before the horse, as the bill is yet to come before the house for adoption.