Backing for ANC call to regulate party funding

chief whip Jackson Mthembu introduced the matter – and all the parties backed the proposal.

This followed the approval of the ANC proposal by chief whips of parties on Wednesday.

Mthembu said since they made the announcement last week a number of civil society organisations had backed them. He said it was important for the public to know who was funding their parties.

“There has been an outcry by civil society that parties do not dis- close who their funders are,” he said.

New regulations would force parties to disclose their funders.

Mthembu said this was to avoid parties being negatively influenced by business.

His counterpart in the DA, John Steenhuisen, said they fully support the establishment of the ad hoc committee to look into the matter.

This would also include the use of tenders to fund parties.

Narend Singh of the IFP said they fully supported the disclosure of party funders.

They also wanted the ad hoc committee to get to the bottom of the issues raised.

Lawyers for Parliament told the programming committee they would follow up on the case that is before the High Court.

An NGO, My Vote Counts, has taken the parties to the Western Cape High Court to force them to disclose their funders. The matter has been put on the High Court roll for August.