'Headed in the wrong direction'

A new study shows that most South Africans are sceptical about the country and want more transparency about political funding and donors

- Lyse Comins

South Africans are disillusioned with the political system and are disengaged from getting involved in political funding, according to a new report commissioned by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) study, presented at a political funding symposium in Umhlanga in KwaZulu-Natal on Wednesday, is based on face-to-face interviews with 3119 adults across the country's nine provinces in February and March and also relied on 26 interviews with experts from the IEC, political parties, civil society, academia, media and donors.

It explored the public perception of the Political Funding Act and the mechanisms designed to ensure accountability and transparency in political finance.

About 200 politicians, representing parties ranging from the ANC to the Economic Freedom Fighters and smaller parties, such as the United Democratic Movement and Rise Mzansi, and NGOs across the country, attended the two-day event that ran until Thursday.

The Act was enacted to promote transparency, accountability and fair competition in the funding of political parties, independent candidates and representatives.

It makes the disclosure of large donations mandatory, regulates public and private funding and establishes mechanisms such as the Multi-Party Democracy Fund.

HSRC chief executive Sarah Mosoetsa told the assembled and NGO representatives at the symposium that the council's study revealed challenges in the political financing system.

"The [Political Funding Act] regulatory mandate presents ongoing difficulties but they remain difficulties that are not insurmountable. Political finance is globally dynamic," she said.

"I think our research is pointing to those challenges but it's also signalling to all of us that we are not alone dealing with such a phenomenon and it can be fixed."