Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is under fire for allocating an additional R1.1 billion to political parties over a three-year medium term, with critics questioning the wisdom of funnelling taxpayer money into political coffers while the country faces a fiscal cliff.
At the Electoral Commission of South Africas IEC recent inaugural symposium on political funding, Godongwana also proposed a shift towards fully public-funded parties, arguing that reliance on private donors undermines accountability.
Analysts have warned that this move could entrench the dominance of larger parties, stifle political competition and deepen public distrust in an already fragile democracy.
He told the conference that over the medium-term policy framework, which provides a three-year rolling budget plan, an additional R1.1 billion in funding will be made available to political parties.
Mindful of next years local government elections, however, we are considering availing even further funding. In my view, political parties must be fully publicly funded.