Deputy Speaker, Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng with Justice Freeman concurring, ordered this Parliament to promotion amend the Promotion of Access to
Information Act and take any other measure it deems appropriate to provide for the recordal, preservation and facilitation of reasonable access to information on the private funding of political parties and independent candidates within a period of 18 months.
In My Vote Counts, NPC versus the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services and others, the Committee on Justice and Correctional Services has sought to assist Parliament to comply with this order. Hon members, the Bill amending the Promotion of Access to Information Act will, as proposed by the committee regulate the recordal preservation and availability of information in respect of private funding to political parties and independent candidates.
This is a separate process to the one that was undertaken during and in the course of the passing of the Political Party Funding Act. The Constitutional Court ruling related to the inadequacy of the current Act to provide for the recordal, preservation and availability of information in respect of private funding to political parties and independent candidates.
Deputy Speaker, the Political Party Funding Act regulates both private and public funding and introduces a Multi- Party Democracy Fund to which anonymous donors may make donations to. The process that we are currently dealing with is empowering ordinary voters to access information in respect of private funding to political parties. The AIC supports this Bill. Thank you.
Declarations of vote (contd):