Latest news with #IEC
Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Godongwana thinks political parties should be wholly funded from national fiscus
CAPE TOWN - Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is of the view that political parties should be wholly funded from the national fiscus and not have to accept private donations. Speaking to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC)'s political funding conference in Durban on Thursday, Godongwana said it's unacceptable that some political parties don't submit annual audited financial statements. Godongwana's own political party, the African National Congress (ANC), was among those fined by the Electoral Court last year for falling foul of the law in this regard. The finance minister questioned whether the IEC was the appropriate body to keep political parties in check over their finances, saying it puts the institution at risk of accusations of bias and a lack of independence. "I'm from the ANC. When they do it to us, we say they've been captured. When they do it to another party, they say Ramaphosa has sent them." With a court challenge still pending over plans to double the annual private funding limit to R30 million, while also raising the threshold for declaring donations to R200,000, Godongwana said he hoped the matter was settled before next year's local government elections. He said that the conference should consider the implications of political parties purely being funded by the state. "That raises the question: What is the optimal level of funding and what is the criteria for that? We complain that departments are inefficient. Should we fund political parties for inefficiencies as well?" Godongwana also hinted that if the revenue allowed, more money could be set aside to fund next year's local government election, in addition to the R1.4 billion already allocated in this year's budget.
Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Symposium thrashes out solutions to strengthening political funding law
CAPE TOWN -The influence of donor funding on the country's political landscape is one of the public concerns under discussion at a symposium on political funding underway in Durban. The symposium aims to put forward proposals to Parliament on how to strengthen the political funding law that is still under regular contestation from civil society groups. Just last month, Parliament decided to double the annual limit for receiving private funding to R30 million a year. READ: Godongwana thinks political parties should be wholly funded from national fiscus As the oversight body for the declaration of donor funding, the vice chairperson Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), Janet Love, said ahead of next year's local government elections, concerns have been raised that the Political Party Funding Act does not cover parties that only contest at local level. Seventy percent of respondents in a Human Sciences Research Council study said they were worried about the transactional nature of politics and capture by the elite who fund political parties. Love said the income of political parties and not their expenditure, has until now dominated the discourse on political funding. "The expenditure in campaigns, which has a more immediate effect on enabling a level playing field on the one hand and a more important impact on election outcomes is not the focus at the present." Love said despite political parties being required to submit regular reports on their funding sources, there are shortcomings in monitoring and investigating compliance as well as enforcement of the law.
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Godongwana proposes full public funding for political parties
Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is proposing political parties be fully funded by public money, arguing reliance on private donors undermines accountability. Speaking at the Electoral Commission of SA's (IEC) inaugural symposium on political funding on Thursday, he said: 'In my view, political parties must be fully publicly funded. Political funding for political parties from the public purse carries with it obligations — there's going to be accountability and transparency. The auditor-general must be able to audit for that accountability.' Godongwana said there is need for a funding regime that ensures stability, transparency and participation. However, he cautioned that economic challenges and reduced revenue collection could limit the creation of a common public funding pool. 'Between the 2011/12 financial year to date, we've only given R3bn to political parties,' a figure he cited to highlight underfunding of parties. He also questioned the IEC's role in overseeing political funding, asking, 'Are we not putting the IEC in a position of a conflict?'
Ottawa Citizen
8 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Algonquin elder files lawsuit claiming she was bounced from OCDSB committee
An Algonquin elder has filed a $4.5 million-plus lawsuit against Ottawa's largest school board, alleging she was 'targeted' and subjected to an 'unconstitutional gag order' after she developed a policy to prevent fraudulent Indigenous identity claims. Article content According to a statement of claim filed June 3 in Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Monique Manatch was removed from her role as chair of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board's Indigenous Education Committee (IEC) after she developed the policy to 'ensure that resources designated for Indigenous persons would not be diverted by individuals fraudulently claiming Indigenous identity.' Article content Article content Article content The allegations have not been proven in court. The OCDSB filed a notice of intent to defend on June 17. Article content Article content Manatch was chair of the Indigenous Education Committee from 2016 until she was removed from the position in February, according to the statement of claim. She is a member of the Algonquins of Barriere Lake, has been an Indigenous education advocate for 20 years and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Anthropology at Carleton University. Article content The policy Manatch was developing was created through extensive consultation with local Indigenous communities, according to the statement of claim, and aligned with best practices, including a 2022 report on Indigenous identity fraud commissioned by the University of Saskatchewan. Article content On Dec. 8, 2024, OCDSB director of education, Pino Buffone phoned Manatch about a complaint made against her, but provided neither details nor the complainant's identity, the statement of claim said. On Jan. 27, she learned by email that she was being investigated for alleged breaches of a harassment prevention policy that had allegedly been raised by a parent. Article content Article content Manatch's statement said she requested particulars, but they were never provided. On Feb. 2, a third-party investigation firm said she was under investigation regarding concerns about the committee under the OCDSB's Respectful Workplace and Harassment Prevention policy. But there were still no particulars about the allegations and the OCDSB did not respond when her lawyer asked for details about the allegations and clarification about the investigation. Article content In a statement, OCDSB spokesperson Diane Pernari said the temporary removal of Manatch from her IEC chair role was a 'necessary decision followed multiple allegations of harassment over several months in which Ms. Manatch was implicated. Given our responsibilities as an employer to ensure a safe work environment, an external and impartial investigation was initiated.'
Hans India
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Hans India
Streetlights conked off? Baldia babus told to fix blinking woes
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is set to expedite the works of street lighting across the city. Following numerous complaints from corporators and residents about the dysfunctional streetlights, the GHMC commissioner RV Karnan ordered the officials to promptly solve the issue to prevent accidents and other untoward situations, especially in the rainy season. On Thursday, the Commissioner held a conference with Additional and Zonal Commissioners and HODs on dysfunctional streetlights, desilting, sanitation, mosquito control, and tax collection. Following numerous complaints from both corporators and the public, he directed the Zonal Commissioners to conduct evening field visits to identify the underlying causes of these problems and address them effectively. To ensure that issues do not arise, RV Karnan instructed the officers to arrange personnel and resources effectively. Special measures must be implemented to avert potential problems. It is essential for Zonal and Deputy Commissioners, along with Electrical Engineers, to visit the areas where complaints are reported and address these issues promptly. Furthermore, the commissioner emphasized the importance of maintaining sanitation during the rainy season to curb the spread of seasonal illnesses. It is crucial to continue fogging efforts to combat dengue and malaria. Intensive IEC programmes should be implemented through ALOs, along with awareness initiatives targeting students in schools and colleges. Due to the insufficient progress in desilting, the Zonal Commissioners were instructed to take action to ensure advancement by coordinating with Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency (HYDRAA).
