Symposium thrashes out solutions to strengthening political funding law
The symposium aims to put forward proposals to Parliament on how to strengthen the political funding law that is still under regular contestation from civil society groups.
Just last month, Parliament decided to double the annual limit for receiving private funding to R30 million a year.
READ: Godongwana thinks political parties should be wholly funded from national fiscus
As the oversight body for the declaration of donor funding, the vice chairperson Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), Janet Love, said ahead of next year's local government elections, concerns have been raised that the Political Party Funding Act does not cover parties that only contest at local level.
Seventy percent of respondents in a Human Sciences Research Council study said they were worried about the transactional nature of politics and capture by the elite who fund political parties.
Love said the income of political parties and not their expenditure, has until now dominated the discourse on political funding.
"The expenditure in campaigns, which has a more immediate effect on enabling a level playing field on the one hand and a more important impact on election outcomes is not the focus at the present."
Love said despite political parties being required to submit regular reports on their funding sources, there are shortcomings in monitoring and investigating compliance as well as enforcement of the law.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
34 minutes ago
- IOL News
Western media demonizes Russia – Zuma's daughter
Pan-African Parliament representative Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has dismissed Western criticism of Russia as deliberate propaganda. Image: File Pan-African Parliament representative Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla has dismissed Western criticism of Russia as deliberate propaganda. In an interview with RT, Zuma-Sambudla, the daughter of former South African President Jacob Zuma, said Western narratives deflect from what she described as efforts to 'rescue the world from unnecessary issues from the West.' 'They [Western news outlets] are just trying to make Russia an enemy, and I don't think that is correct,' she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Zuma-Sambudla also criticized the continued military and political interference by Western powers across Africa, calling it a major obstacle to regional stability and self-reliance. Citing recent developments in West Africa and the Sahel, she described the withdrawal of French forces from countries such as Senegal as involuntary. 'They didn't pull out, they were asked to leave,' she said, arguing that this reflect a growing desire among African nations to 'resolve African problems alone,' free from external influence. 'We always have interference. And interference is actually what makes the problems even bigger.' Asked whether South Africa should continue to value its relationship with the US, Zuma-Sambudla questioned why it is still seen as a strategic partner. She noted that South Africa's liberation movement once asked the US for assistance during the Apartheid era, but received no support, in contrast to Russia, which provided aid. 'We [South Africans] cherish the Russian relationship, because when we asked for help, they helped us,' she said. Reflecting on leaders who have challenged the dominance of the US dollar, Zuma-Sambudla noted former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's push for a pan-African gold dinar. She suggested that proposals such as this may have played a role in his downfall. 'We're working on the BRICS currency, and all of a sudden, Putin is a problem. So, it's just a trend.' In the interview, Zuma expressed support for RT and criticized the South African government's decision to block the channel amid international sanctions on Russia. She pledged that her party, the uMkhonto weSizwe movement, would reopen RT's access if it comes to power. RT News
Eyewitness News
2 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Paul Mashatile to face R10k fine for not declaring diamond gift to his wife from Louis Liebenberg
CAPE TOWN - Deputy President Paul Mashatile is set to face a R10,000 fine for failing to declare to Parliament a diamond gifted to his wife by diamond dealer, Louis Liebenberg. Liebenberg is currently facing a raft of corruption charges related to diamond dealing. Parliament's ethics committee has rejected Mashatile's excuses for why he did not declare the diamond after the Democratic Alliance (DA) laid a complaint in March, questioning the omission. This week, the ethics committee lauded MPs for submitting their latest financial disclosures before the deadline. ALSO READ: Parly's ethics committee co-chair says she trusts that MPs were honest about disclosing financial interests But in the confidential section of last year's register, the deputy president was found wanting for not declaring the diamond highlighted in a court affidavit as part of the Liebenberg matter. In his defence, Mashatile said he was waiting for the diamond to be appraised to determine its value before declaring it and that he'd since surrendered the stone to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). But the ethics committee was of the view that he should have declared it first and submitted a value later. Co-chairperson of the ethics committee, Lusizo Makhubela, said that MPs are required to disclose the financial interests of their immediate family in the confidential section of the register. "Members of Parliament would put those financial interests of their immediate family members which we believe should not be consumed by the public in a manner that would expose them or prejudice them." After refuting reports about owning a property in Cape Town, this year, Mashatile has added the disputed Constantia property in his public disclosures.
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- The Citizen
Mashatile fined for failing to declare diamond gift from Louis Liebenberg
The diamond was handed over to the NPA. Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been found guilty by Parliament's ethics committee for failing to declare a diamond gift received by his wife, Humile Mashatile, from controversial businessman Louis Liebenberg. Mashatile has also been in the spotlight due to his high-end lifestyle, luxury properties, and associations with corruption-accused individuals such as Edwin Sodi. According to the deputy president's office, the diamond was undergoing verification to determine its authenticity and would be declared once the verification process was complete. The office also stated that the diamond would be returned following the arrest of Louis Liebenberg last year on charges of fraud, theft, racketeering and money laundering. Despite this, a formal complaint was lodged with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests. Parliament fines Mashatile over Liebenberg diamond Following an investigation, the committee fined Mashatile for not disclosing the 'unsolicited' gift to his wife in the parliamentary register. 'The committee, through the office of the registrar, received a formal complaint against the deputy president on 5 March 2025 for an alleged breach of the code of ethical conduct and members' Interests. ALSO READ: Mashatile reveals he spent R2.3m on travel, food, and laundry for Japan trip 'Item 13(3)(f) of the code requires members of parliament to disclose gifts received by their immediate family in the confidential part of the register,' Parliament's statement read on Thursday. 'Following consideration of the complaint and perusal of the confidential part of the deputy president's disclosed interests, the committee noted that the gift in question (a diamond from Mr Louis Liebenberg) was not disclosed.' Diamond with NPA Mashatile confirmed to the committee the precious stone had since been handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). However, the committee argued that ethical conduct required the gift to be declared promptly, with its value to be determined and disclosed later. In addition to the fine, the committee has recommended that Mashatile be officially reprimanded in the National Assembly. 'The committee remains steadfast in its quest to ensure accountability of all members of parliament as demanded by the code. The disclosure process not only facilitates public trust in Parliament but also enhances its credibility.' READ MORE: Should Paul Mashatile be president? This ANC veteran thinks so Earlier this year, opposition party ActionSA called on the Public Protector to investigate the diamond gift and whether there were any breaches of the Executive Members' Ethics Act. 'Alarmingly, this 'gift' raises serious concerns when viewed in the context of allegations surrounding the deputy president's unexplained lavish lifestyle, claims that he too engages heavily in trading favours, and Liebenberg's reputation for 'gifting' extravagant items to high-ranking politicians and government officials as a means to buy influence,' the party said in a statement at the time. Mashatile's property declarations Mashatile recently declared ownership of a R28.9 million estate in Constantia, Cape Town, despite previously denying any property ownership in the area. In October 2024, the deputy president's office insisted that he had no properties in Cape Town aside from a house in Kelvin, Johannesburg, purchased through a bank loan with his late wife. At the time, the Constantia property was said to belong to a company linked to his son-in-law. However, new disclosures made this year list the 4 000-square-metre Constantia house as Mashatile's, along with a 9 300-square-metre home in Waterfall, Midrand, reportedly valued at R37 million and the Kelvin residence. The Hawks are currently investigating Mashatile following criminal charges laid by the DA. Last year, Mashatile declared ownership of two properties, one located in Midrand spanning 1 000 by 1 200 square metres, and another in Sandton covering 600 by 800 square metres. NOW READ: Mashatile denies family tied to multibillion-rand lottery deal
