Ramaphosa warns against political parties surviving on private funding
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says that for democracy to flourish the existence of political parties should not depend on private funding. Speaking at Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa’s 20th anniversary symposium, he said reliance on private funding could create conflicts of interest and undue influence. "There is therefore a need for greater transparency in the funding of political parties alongside the establishment of public funding mechanisms through which parties can be sustained." The deputy president said democratic governments were also critical in fostering economic growth and had been used as a barometer to assess the ability of a country to manage public resources and exercise sound economic management. Economic growth was the "most important dividend" flowing from democratic elections. In many developing countries, inequality and poverty were a pervasive threat to building democracy and its sustenance, he added. Lack of credible electoral proces...
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