KZN may fund political parties

2008-11-19 11:31

Durban - A proposed bill aimed at funding KwaZulu-Natal political parties with at least R20m of taxpayers' money was introduced to the provincial legislature's finance committee on Tuesday.

The proposal by Finance MEC Zweli Mkhize was swiftly followed by objections from the Democratic Alliance, who said such funding should be provided on a national, and not provincial, level.

Provincial DA caucus leader Roger Burrows said there was also doubt as to whether the Bill was constitutional.

"Legal opinions given, both by an advocate and the State Law Advisors, suggest that the legislature might not have the constitutional power to pass such legislation. The Constitutional Court should certainly be consulted regarding an opinion on this."

He said the Bill had not complied with the required procedure in terms of the Rules of Legislature, as there had been no calls for public comment or public hearings.

The Bill was apparently designed to distribute the R20m to the seven political parties represented in the provincial legislature - the African National Congress, the Inkatha Freedom Party, the DA, Nadeco, the Minority Front, the United Democratic Movement and the African Christian Democratic Party.

- SAPA