Jaspreet Kindra
A Democratic Alliance letter, stipulating that aspirant candidates for the 2004 general elections must pay the party a R10 000 deposit, has sparked a war of words between the DA and its former New National Party ally.
At an NNP gathering in Evaton at the weekend, the Nats cited the letter as an example of the DA’s “elitism”.
The letter was read out by NNP member of the Gauteng legislature Juli Kilian. Apparently written by a DA leader in Gauteng South, it asks members who wish to stand for the election to start paying monthly amounts into a special account for safekeeping. Kilian told the cheering crowd that NNP candidates were not required to make such a deposit.
The DA leader in Gauteng, Jack Bloom, accused the NNP of hypocrisy: “When they fielded candidates for the local government elections under the DA banner and were required to pay an amount, they had no problem.”
Bloom added that the letter had been sent to MPs, members of the provincial legislature and councillors “who earn good money” and could afford to contribute towards the campaign.
Bloom also said: “We have never barred any member from standing if he or she did not have the money. The amount is later deducted from the member’s salary when he or she is elected.”
Bloom said it was “only fair” that the candidates contribute towards the party, as it is the party which provides them with the platform to do so.
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) CEO Pansy Tlakula said it was “not uncommon for parties to require financial contributions from candidates or members of a party. There are no legal prescripts on the matter.”
Under IEC regulations, a party fielding candidates for the national elections has to pay a deposit of R100 000, and for provincial polls R20 000. Substantially lower sums are required for municipal elections, the money varying according to the type of municipality.
A quick survey among political parties revealed varying stands on taking money from candidates. African National Congress spokes-person Nomfanelo Kota said the party finances candidates’ campaigns and raises the deposit on its own.
Inkatha Freedom Party spokesperson Musa Zondi said the IFP had rejected the idea of raising funds for the deposit through the candidates in 1994: “Many of our candidates come from poor backgrounds and are proposed by their respective communities we cannot reject them because they do not have money.”
Jo-Ann Downs, spokesperson for the African Christian Democratic Party, said the party requires its candidates to pay a reasonable amount R500 in the last election towards the campaigning costs. “We are a small party but we do not like to unduly pressurise our candidates we try to keep the amount affordable.”