Fiddle with formulas

Home affairs minister Aaron Motsoaledi justified the alteration of the funding formula for political parties and independent representatives by citing the constitutional provision that allocations be carried out in a proportional and equitable manner.

It is debatable, however, whether the proposal contained in the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill adopted by parliament’s home affairs committee last week will achieve this objective in an equitable manner. The bill changes the previous formula of twothirds allocated on a proportional basis and one-third on an equitable basis to one where 90% is allocated on a proportional basis and 10% equitably.

No justification was provided by the minister or the department of home affairs as to why the 90/10 split was decided. According to elections expert Michael Atkins, who has done modelling of the numbers, the inclusion of independent representatives under a two-thirds/one-third formula would have had only a marginal reduction in the allocation to all political parties while the 90/10 formula will propel the ANC’s share from 43.38% to 53.92% and reduce that of smaller parties about 50%.

Smaller parties are rightfully incensed by what the DA calls “a money grab” by the ANC. As long as the minister and the department fail to substantiate the fairness of the allocation formula adopted, the perception will remain that national legislation was being manipulated to further the interests of the ruling party.

The funding of political parties and possibly in the near future independent representatives is a vital ingredient to a robust democracy. It must be done fairly to avoid a constitutional challenge.