South Africa does not have any regulation or legislation governing the private funding of political parties in South Africa. This means that we do not know where political parties are getting their money from and what influence or access this buys the donors in return. This has to stop! Let the 2016 local government elections be the last elections in South Africa shrouded in secrecy! Help us make this a reality.
Do you want to know who is funding political parties in South Africa? MY VOTE COUNTS (MVC) is campaigning to improve the accountability, transparency and inclusiveness of elections and politics in South Africa to give us all a stronger voice. The first step is to campaign for a law that requires political parties to be transparent about their finances.
But first we need your help.
The secrecy around political party finances is a huge problem in South Africa. As we head for the biggest municipal election in the history of our democracy, political parties have secured hundreds of millions of rands in secret funds — from individuals, corporations, and possibly even other governments. This has allowed unknown persons to buy favours and influence with political parties, and has even resulted in tender corruption. And yet voters are told we don’t have the right to know.
Last year, MVC went to the Constitutional Court to demand Parliament passes a law to ensure there is some minimum level of transparency in party finances. That case was dismissed on a technicality — the ConCourt ruled that MVC should rather challenge the Promotion of Access to Information Act(PAIA) in the High Court. On 28 July 2016, MVC filed papers in the Cape Town High Court asking the court to declare PAIA unconstitutional and invalid for its failure to facilitate access to information on the funding of political parties.
And outside the court we will deepen the campaign for political parties (and the anonymous players who fund them) to be more transparent and accountable to the people of South Africa. By reaching our tipping point of R3000 we will be able to create campaign material related to the MVC court case, reaching our goal of R10 000 will allow MVC to improve its electronic media channels and create content to be distributed on these platforms.
Coordinating these efforts will cost money. We are asking all supporters of to make a donation, big or small, to help us take forward our campaign to ensure that everyone’s vote counts.
My Vote Counts(MVC) has 2 staff members and an activist Board of 8 members. The staff members are responsible for the daily implementation of MVC’s work supported with regular input and advice from the Board members who participate in all MVC activities on a voluntary basis.