IEC postpones implementation of party funding act

The IEC had previously indicated its intention to implement the act in a phased approach over the next two to three years, starting from April 1.

IEC deputy chief electoral officer Masego Sheburi says they have received more than 5000 submissions since publishing the draft act.

"It is the view of the commission that since we are entering unchartered territory we need to proceed with caution and consider submissions that have been made by interested persons."

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Shaburi says public hearings will be held.

"The commission will eminently convene a public hearing at which those persons that have made submission will be invited to make oral submission an to also hear expert evidence and hear from other jurisdictions that have implemented political funding."

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Meanwhile, My Vote Counts (MVC) the lobby group that brought the application forward to the Constitutional Court, says they will also participate in the public hearings.

The organisation's Zahira Grimwood says they are concerned about political parties classifying themselves as private enterprises.

"It speaks to the fact that political parties aren't effectively regulated and the private status they are allocated gives them a lot of power to be able to maintain secrecy about what goes on in their political parties.

"This then raises the question that should there be more democracy regulated within political parties.”

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