AL JAMA-AH lashes out at the ANC for allocating double the amount of funding to itself and the DA

AL JAMA-AH lashes out at the ANC for allocating double the amount of funding to itself and the DA:

Al Jama-ah Party says it is disgusted by the ANC government for allocating double the amount of funding to the party and the opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The Electoral Matters Amendment Bill was adopted by the ANC on Tuesday (2 March 2024) which was supported by the EFF and the NFP (National Freedom Party). AL JAMA-AH has received half of its present funding despite an agreement reached on equity; it seems that ‘equity’ is a meaningless word in the current political climate.

The existing formula in the Political Party Funding Act makes provisions for funds on the basis of two thirds proportional and one third equitable; the bill changes this to 90% proportional and 10% equitable, thus deliberately and purposefully cutting funding to smaller parties by 50% in most cases. The ANC government knows that the smaller parties play a critical role in the present environment, yet it adopted a position that undercut instead of creating a more competitive environment.

In protest against the adoption of the Bill, Al Jama-ah boycotted portfolio committee meetings and Tuesday’s (12 March) debate in the National Assembly. “The ANC has committed a great threat to the country’s democracy; this is what the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) that is chaired by elders in Africa, warned about,” says Hon Ganief Hendricks, Al Jama-ah’s leader, and Member of Parliament.

In fact, the question is: does ‘democracy’ mean anything to the ANC government in our frustrating circumstances? From what had been observed, it seems not; and this is quite painfully evident when those, who were once die-hard socialists, have turned their backs against ethical principles in the political arena; one that is sadly awash with corrupt practices.

Hendricks says the ANC should be ashamed for such a betrayal and that voters will surely punish the party. “When liberation movements were together in the trenches, we did not duck the bullets proportionally, “ he exclaimed.

For media interviews contact:
Sinazo Mtsengu
078 512 3186