President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law an amendment to the Political Party Funding Act, introducing stricter rules for transparency and accountability in how political parties receive money.
The key changes lower the amount at which donations must be declared. Previously, parties had to disclose donations above R100,000; now, that threshold is reduced to R50,000. The law also lowers the maximum amount a single donor can give to a party each year, from R15 million to R10 million.
The Presidency stated that these amendments are designed to prevent wealthy individuals or organizations from gaining undue influence over political parties. The goal is to build public trust in the electoral process by making the sources of party funding more visible.
Civil society groups, like My Vote Counts, have welcomed the move, calling it a significant step in the fight against corruption and “state capture.” They argue it gives voters more information to hold parties accountable.
However, some political parties, particularly smaller ones, have expressed concern. They worry that the lower donation cap could make it harder to raise enough money to compete effectively in elections, especially as campaign costs increase.
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) will be responsible for enforcing the new rules and is expected to issue guidance to all registered parties in the coming weeks. The amended law takes effect immediately.