statement by UDM Deputy-President
The reaction of the parties represented in parliament on the question of funding political parties outside of parliament must be seen in perspective. Currently parliamentary represented political parties are receiving funds from two state sources. They are receiving in all nine Provincial as well as in the National Legislature an amount of R4 489-00 per month per member. This is over and above the normal salaries paid to members. Secondly, they are receiving funds from the Public Funding of Represented Political Parties Act of 1997. An amount of R53 million was budgeted for under this act to be divided proportionally amongst the parties as they are represented in Parliament per year.
STATE FUNDING RECEIVED PER MEMBER
NATIONAL PARLIAMENT
|
Political Parties |
Seats |
R per Month |
R per Year |
|
ANC |
252 |
R 1 131 228,00 |
R13 574 736,00 |
|
NP |
82 |
R 368 098,00 |
R 4 417 176,00 |
|
IFP |
43 |
R 193 027,00 |
R 2 316 324,00 |
|
FF |
9 |
R 40 401,00 |
R 484 812,00 |
|
DP |
7 |
R 31 423,00 |
R 377 076,00 |
|
PAC |
5 |
R 22 445,00 |
R 269 340,00 |
|
ACDP |
2 |
R 8 978,00; |
R 107 736,00 |
| ; | ; | TOTAL | R21 547 736,00 |
STATE FUNDING RECEIVED PER MEMBER
PERMANENT MEMBERS
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
|
Political Parties |
Seats |
R per Month |
R per Year |
|
ANC |
32 |
R143 648,00 |
R1 723 776,00 |
|
NP |
11 |
R 49 379,00 |
R 592 548,00 |
|
IFP |
3 |
R 13 467,00 |
R 161 604,00 |
|
FF |
5 |
R 22 445,00 |
R 269 340,00 |
|
DP |
3 |
R 13 467,00 |
R 161 604,00 |
|
TOTAL |
R2 908 872,00 |
STATE FUNDING RECEIVED PER MEMBER
TOTAL NUMBER OF MEMBERS
ALL NINE PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURES
|
Political Parties |
Seats |
R per Month |
R per year |
|
ANC |
266 |
R1 194 074,00 |
R14 328 888,00 |
|
NP |
82 |
R 368 098,00 |
R 4 417 176,00 |
|
IFP |
44 |
R 197 516,00 |
R 2 370 192,00 |
|
FF |
14 |
R 62 846,00 |
R 754 152,00 |
|
DP |
12 |
R 53 868,00 |
R 646 416,00 |
|
PAC |
3 |
R 13 467,00 |
R 161 604,00 |
|
ACDP |
3 |
R 13 467,00 |
R 161 604,00 |
|
MNF |
1 |
R 4 489,00 |
R 53 868,00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
R22 893 900,00 |
TOTAL AMOUNT OF STATE FUNDING RECEIVED PER YEAR
PER MEMBER
POLITICAL PARTIES
|
Political Parties |
R per Year |
|
ANC |
R 29 627 400,00 |
|
NP |
R 9 426 900,00 |
|
IFP |
R 4 848 120,00 |
|
FF |
R 1 508 304,00 |
|
DP |
R 1 185 096,00 |
|
PAC |
R 430 944,00 |
|
ACDP |
R 269 340,00 |
|
MNF |
R 53 868,00 |
|
TOTAL |
R47 349 972,00 |
As far as the second source of already existing state funding (tax payers money is concerned, the calculation looks as follows:
PUBLIC FUNDING ACT OF REPRESENTED POLITICAL PARTIES
R53 000 000,00
|
Party |
Share of R53 000 000,00 |
|
ANC |
R 33 390 000,00 |
|
NP |
R 10 865 000,00 |
|
IFP |
R 5 697 500,00 |
|
FF |
R 1 192 500,00 |
|
DP |
R 972 500,00 |
|
PAC |
R 662 500,00 |
|
ACDP |
R 265 000,00 |
|
Total |
R53 000 000,00 |
The amount of R4 489-00 per member per month is suppose to be the amount that was previously called constituency allowance. With this amount, each representative is suppose to service the constituency they represent. It is however a well known fact that individual representatives of certain parties never see this money and it is actually used to finance operational costs of parties. The South African electorates bear witness to this – just question them on the interaction they have experienced over the past four years with individual members of Provincial and National Legislatures.
The already “fat cats” see in the call of the UDM and other extra parliamentary parties, for the equal funding of political parties during the elections, the possibility of another gold layered bowl of cream from which they can drink. The point they are missing is that the creation of yet another state funded source is not what it is about. It is about the leveling of the playing fields for parties participating in the 1998 General Elections. If this issue is not going to be addressed the UDM will be forced to continue with its Constitutional Court Case to rectify the situation. The election might be declared free, but with this skewed state of affairs, it can never be called fair.
