Ramaphosa signs into law legislation to guide conduct of political parties

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law one of the key pieces of legislation that will clamp down on the conduct of political parties.

Parliament announced yesterday that Ramaphosa had signed the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill.

This was a few months after both the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces approved the bill.

The new Act will among other things prevent the use of government funds in the campaigns. The ANC has in the past been accused of using public funds and resources in its campaign for elections.

The signing into law of the bill came as Ramaphosa was yesterday doing a walkabout in the parliamentary precinct before the State of the Nation Address tomorrow.

Ramaphosa joked with the media and did not take questions as he went on an inspection of the National Assembly where he met Speaker Baleka Mbete and NCOP chairperson Thandi Modise.

The Electoral Laws Act is one of the laws dealing with elections in the country. It came (into being) after Ramaphosa assented to the Political Party Funding Bill.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa said the Party Funding Bill would come into effect in April.

The Electoral Laws Bill will also start operating at the same time.

In the debates in Parliament, parties have often accused the ANC of using public funds and resources in its campaigns.

They claimed ministers would use their positions to advance the interests of the ruling party.

But now opposition parties hope the Electoral Laws Bill will be able to clamp down on this conduct and prevent the abuse of public funds.

The signing of the law comes as the country prepares for elections in May.

The elections are expected to be the toughest in democratic South Africa.

Ramaphosa is expected to announce the election date soon.

The IEC said last week the date would be announced this month, but did not give details. This year 287 parties have registered to contest the elections, but the IEC said the number could decrease after the announcement of the date for the elections.

Parties are expected to pay R200 000 to contest seats in the National Assembly and R45 000 for the provincial legislatures.