Political parties now compelled to disclose their funders

109
Political parties now compelled to disclose their funders
Political parties will soon have to disclose who funds them. PICTURE BY Reuters/Mike Hutchings.

Parliament has 18 months to amend sections of the Promotion of Access to Information Act and have political parties disclosing private funders.


The application at the Western Cape high court to have political parties disclosing their private funders was brought by non-profit organisation My Vote Counts.

Judge Yasmin Meer on Wednesday (27 Sep) said it was important that parties disclose who funds them and that Parliament will have to work on the Act and “rectify” it for political parties to be compelled to disclose.

LATEST: Senzo Mchunu coming to Mpumalanga

Meer’s ruling also applies to independent candidates.

“It is declared that the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2 of 2000, is inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid insofar as it does not allow for the recordal and disclosure of private funding information,” the judge said.

“Parliament [must] remedy the defects in the Promotion of Access to Information Act and to allow for the recordal and disclosure of private funding of political parties and independent candidates,” he said.

(edited by MLM)

Send tips to editor@013.co.za