Cape Town — Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, has prevented a the removal of a section in a Bill in Parliament related to the funding of parties that was stopped by the Zondo Commission’s report that insisted the section is inserted in the bill.
Motsoaledi said said that section 10 of the Political Party Funding Act was criminalising people who were receiving donations outside of their party, saying donors have different motives when they make donations to parties, but it was difficult to police donations made to individuals, IOL reported.
Between Motsoaledi, the IEC, and the Department of Communication and Parliament’s legal advisers, they made submissions on the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill before the joint committees of parliament.
Motsoaledi said they did not agree with section 10 because it sought to criminalise members of parties who may not be aware of the intentions of donors when they make a contribution.
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“The Parliamentary legal services say they agree with the issue on section 10. This is section 10 of the Political Party Funding Act as it was passed in 2018. The original section says no member of a political party should receive funding from any source other than for party political activities.”
Motsoaledi said that, had it not been for the Zondo Commission that flagged the issue, they would have removed section 10 of the Political Party Funding Act.
The meeting of the joint committees will continue next week on amendments by the department of home affairs. The Electoral Matters Amendment Bill will have to be finalised before the elections.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
