Info
Parties and Candidates
PC001
Registration requirements for parties (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
b . Deposit requirement (specify amount) f . Other
Comments: “The form shall, inter alia, make provision for the following:
(a) The name of the party;
(b) the Distinguishing mark or symbol of the party in colour; and
(c) the abbreviation, if any, of the name of the party consisting of not more than eight letters"
"The application shall be accompanied by-
(a) That party’s deed of foundation which has been adopted at a meeting of, and has been signed by the prescribed number of persons who are qualified voters;
(b) the prescribed amount, if any; and
(d) that party’s constitution"
Source: Electoral Commission Act 1996 (Amended to 2006), Section 38: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-commission-act-of-1996-as/view;
Electoral Law: Regulations for the Registration of Political Parties, Sections 3-4: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-public-funding-of-represented/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
PC003
Registration requirements for candidates (Chamber 1)
Question: What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):
a . Age b . Citizenship f . Registration
Comments: Every citizen who is qualified to vote for the National Assembly is eligible to be a member of the Assembly. People who are unrehabilitated insolvents, declared to be of unsound mind or have been sentenced to more than 12 months imprisonment without the option of a fine are disqualified.
Source: Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Article 47(1): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-act-2010/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
PC008
Independent candidates
Question: Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):
a . Neither in presidential nor legislative elections
Comments: Members of the National Assembly are elected by proportional representation from party lists. The President is elected from the members of the National Assembly. No provision is made for independent candidates.
Source: Electoral Act of 1998 (as amended to 2013), Articles 26 & 27: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-act-73-of-1998-as-amended/view
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, Preamble: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-act-2010/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
PC012
Public funding of parties
Question: Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):
b . Direct c . Indirect
Comments: Public funding is dispensed by chief electoral officer to parties currently represented in national and provincial legislatures. Allocated according a formula that takes into account the proportion of members a party has in the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures and a minimum threshold amount to ensure equity.
For all parties, party-owned business interests, membership fees and funds raised by branches represent only a small proportion of total funds. Smaller parties are highly dependent on public funding while larger parties obtain the bulk of their funding from donations from the private sector and foreign governments and companies
Source: Public Funding of Represented Political Parties Act, Section 5: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-act-73-of-1998-as-amended/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
PC015
Question: What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):
c . Based on current legislative representation e . Other
Comments: Funds are allocated according a formula that takes into account the proportion of members a party has in the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures and a minimum threshold amount to ensure equity. Accordingly 90% of the allocation of the financial year is paid in proportion to each party's aggregate seat representation in the sum of the seats of the National Assembly and Provincial legislatures. The remaining 10% is divided among the provinces proportionately to the number of seats in each province and the provincial allocations are divided equally among the parties in each legislature.
Source: Public Funding of Represented Political Parties Act, Sections 2, 4, & 5: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-act-73-of-1998-as-amended/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
PC017
Question: Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:
c . No information available
Comments: “Any political party may also obtain funds from its members and from other sources, such as business (both local and foreign) and civil society groupings.”
Source: South Africa: Electoral Commission of South Africa -- Party Funding: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/africa/ZA/south-africa-electoral-commission-of-south-africa-2/view
Verified: 2014/05/01
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