The electorate needs transparency from political parties and their members. This is the concern raised following revelations that the now notorious Bosasa’s Gavin Watson allegedly funded President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC leadership campaign in 2017.

Investigative journalism organisation, amaBhungane now heads back to the High Court to ensure that political party candidates’ funding be publicised.

The group approached the Constitutional Court in the matter dealing with the Public Protector’s investigation into whether President Ramaphosa had lied to Parliament about who funded his CR17 campaign.

They argued that private funders to individuals could influence these candidates once they reach key leadership positions, especially as President Ramaphosa now heads up the ANC and the country.

This argument was echoed by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng in a minority judgement on the matter. The Constitutional Court had agreed with amaBhungane’s argument, and the case will be heard in the High Court.

amaBhungane advocacy coordinator, Cherese Thakur says that donors who want their influence to kept secret may have found a loophole to the Political Party Funding Act.

[Header image: Pixabay]