President Ramaphosa sings Political Party Funding Act into law, no funding by foreign governments or agencies

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The Presidency has confirmed in a statement that President Matamela Ramaphosa has finally signed the Political Party Funding Act into law which is set to take effect from April 1st.

The Act has for quite some received a backlash and push back from other organisations mostly big political parties who also called for a political party funding increase.

The Act prohibits donations to parties by foreign governments or agencies, foreign persons or entities, organs of state or state-owned enterprises.

“Parties may however receive funding from foreign entities for training, skills development or policy development. No member of a political party may receive a donation other than for political party purposes.”

“The implementation of the Political Party Funding Act will have far-reaching consequences for good governance and ethical political activity. It will strengthen the confidence of citizens in the democratic political process and enable them to assert their right to information” said the Presidency through a statement.

President Ramaphosa concluded the statement by commending the IEC, the Department of Home Affairs, Memebers of Parliament, leaders of political parties and other stakeholders for the extensive preparatory work required to bring this legislation into operation.

He also pleaded with stakeholders involved and political parties to work together with the IEC to make that the Act comes into action.