Ramaphosa signs election bill into law

The new law will lead to significant changes in political funding regulations, including a change in the funding formula for political parties and independents represented in the legislature, which currently receive funding from the government.

It also makes provision for independent candidates to be able to declare their funding sources.

When the bill was passed with an overwhelming majority by the National Assembly in March, opposition parties accused the ANC of hijacking the bill to include amendments that undermine multi-party democracy.

They accused the ANC of fiddling with the allocation of public funding to political parties and independents, violating the constitution and multi-party democracy values.

The bill removes the threshold for declaring donations (currently R100 000) and the upper limit for accepting donations (currently R15m).

In a statement on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said the bill makes consequential amendments to the Electoral Act of 1998.

“The new legislation provides for independent representatives to receive funds from the Multi-Party Democracy Fund, which is also administered by the Independent Electoral Commission.

"While the Represented Political Parties Fund is resourced by the fiscus, the Multi-Party Democracy Fund aims to raise and distribute donated funds from the private sector to represented political parties. The Fund will now include independent candidates.

"In a year in which voters are presented with the greatest diversity of electoral choice, the legislation that is now enacted constitutes tangible, material support for a vibrant, competitive, open and equitable electoral system and democratic culture," said Ramaphosa.

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