DA forces officials to raise cash

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Published Nov 17, 2015

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Cape Town - The funding of political parties is always a hot issue, but DA members in the Western Cape believe the party has gone too far, setting fundraising targets for its public representatives to achieve via debit orders from constituents.

Several councillors and office bearers have told the Cape Argus they had been told to fill the party’s coffers by getting supporters to sign monthly debit orders.

Sources within the DA’s east, west and metro regions said they were concerned that the debit-order campaign “benefits public representatives in rich areas” while “nailing the coffin of those in poor areas”.

Supporters may sign debit orders for an amount of their choice, but party members standing for public office are given targets and are “red-flagged” if they do not deliver.

“The minimum amount that should be raised is R500 and if you can bring in a R1 000 a month you have outdone yourself,” a member from the metro region claimed.

At least six councillors currently working in poor communities in the Cape Peninsula, the Southern Cape, Karoo, Cape Winelands and Overberg said they would suffer if they couldn’t sign enough creditors.

“If you are servicing a poor community and you do not make the target you will be red-flagged. You will actually be penalised for working with the poor who, in many cases, do not even own a bank account for a debit order,” a councillor in the DA’s east region said. Others felt it opened the door to corruption.

“People who sign debit orders could turn around and demand something in return. It is as unscrupulous as the loanshark who preys on the poor,” a councillor said.

However, the DA’s federal executive chairman, James Selfe, said they accept that councillors in poorer areas would not be able to bring in targeted amounts.

“Red-flagging will only happen if a councillor clearly could have raised debit orders, but did not.”

Selfe said the debit orders could be raised anywhere in South Africa, so “no councillor is prejudiced by the poverty or wealth of their community”.

Party members feared that their fundraising efforts could be used to allocate plum council positions after next year’s local elections. “It will be used during the DA’s interviewing processes to find suitable candidates,” one member said.

Not all party members were against the move, with some saying those who want to serve in public office should actively lobby for financial support. “People should work hard and contribute to the party,” one DA member said.

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Cape Argus

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