POLITICS
STEVEN FRIEDMAN: Why SA's political party funding law does not go far enough
If we want a strong democracy, how much money political parties get should depend on how many people support them, not on how much the people who fund them own. Parliament has now passed the Political Party Funding Bill. Once it becomes law, parties will have to tell voters something about who funds them. There will also be limits on how much donors can give a party. The bill has been hailed as a breakthrough for democracy and, to a degree, it is. Given how much damage money does to politics, it is important that parties must say where they get their money and that there is a limit to how much a donor can give. But if we want politics that is about how good parties are at winning the support of voters, not the wealth of their donors, the new law falls far short. First, parties do not have to disclose donations below R100,000, which leaves leeway for secret funding. Activists want this cut to R10,000. But if we agree that parties should say where they get their money, they should sur...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.