21 Feb 2017

Government became aware of requests to have public funding of political parties after 2004 general elections following a National Stakeholders Evaluation workshop organised by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

Responding to a question in Parliament on Monday, the Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration, Mr Eric Molale said subsequent National Stakeholders Evaluations of 2009 and 2014 continued to bring requests for political party funding.

Minister Molale said government has previously considered introduction of political party funding, but due to budgetary constraints it could not be approved. “It has not been included in the National Development Plan 11 and therefore, will not be in place for the 2019 general elections,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Selebi-Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had wanted the minister to state when the government became aware of requests by opposition parties and some in the ruling party to have public funding of political parties. MP Keorapetse also wanted to know if it was the intention of government to have the system in place for 2019 general elections and if not, why and if so, he wanted the minister to state those plans.