How much does it cost to start a politcal party in SA

Photo: Kevin Sutherland/EPA

Photo: Kevin Sutherland/EPA

Published Dec 5, 2017

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DURBAN - Former ANC MP, Makhosi Khoza on Tuesday launched her own political party, called African Democratic Change (ADeC). 

But just what are financial requirements of starting one's own political party? 

According to the IEC if one is an Independent Candidate, the said person can only contest wards elections in general local elections and by-elections. There is a fee of R1 000 per ward if you want to contest the ward elections.

If you want to register a national party then the party has to pay a registration fee of R500 and if the want have a party that contests at a municipal level then the registration fee is R200. 

There are other that have requirements have been prescribed for parties that wish to register at a national level and a municipal level.

Here's the breakdown of what is needed for registering a political party on a national level or a municipal level. 

Those wishing to contest in elections you need to first register their political party at a national level and give in the following documents. 

- An application for registration which can be sourced from the IEC site

- The name of the party (minimum 60 letters) and the party abbreviated name (minimum of 8 letters).

- A copy of the Constitution for the party.

- A Deed of Foundation that needs to be signed by 500 registered voters who support the founding party. 

- Two sets of party logos or symbol in colours. 

- A hard copy of the Government Gazette in which your notice appears. 

In order to register to contest in a select number of elections in a specific municipality you must give in the following:

- An application for registration which can be sourced from the IEC site

- A copy of the Constitution for the party.

- A Deed of Foundation that needs to be signed by 100 registered voters who support the founding party. 

- Two sets of party logos or symbol in colours.

- A hard copy of the Government Gazette that shows the notice of your applying to register a political party. 

The IEC also said that if one wants the change the name of the party or change the logo of the party there is not fee attached but the party will have to pay publishing a notice with a proposed new logo in the Government Gazette.

Funding

Public (by the state) and private funding is allowed by the IEC. There is also public funding from the Represented Political Parties’ Fund but it is only available to national level parties and there are specific items that the money from the Represented Political Parties’ Fund can be spent on. 

These items include promoting the participation of people in political life and exercising an influence on political trends.

Parties may not use the fund for things are not compatible with the operations of a political party in a modern democracy. 

The Chief Electoral Officer is the accountant and CEO of the fund and has the main responsibility of managing and distributing the fund.

For more information check out the IEC website. 

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