CAPE TOWN, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Western Cape High Court ruled on Wednesday that political parties must disclose their sources of private funding so as to ensure transparency and accountability.
Judge Yasmin Shenaz Meer ordered Parliament to amend the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), which he said is inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid insofar as it does not allow for disclosure of private funding information.
Meer gave Parliament 18 months to rectify the "inconsistencies" in the act.
Information about private funding is "reasonably required" for the effective exercise of the right to vote and to make political choices by the Constitution, the judge said.
The ruling also applies to independent candidates.
Non-profit organization My Vote Counts submitted the application to have PAIA amended, amid growing reliance by political parties on private donations.
There have been concerns that the secrecy that clouds political party financing could damage democratic processes and lead to a manipulation of public policy positions in favor of certain private funders.
Parliament set up a multiparty special committee in July to look the issue. It has set itself a November deadline to formalize a final bill.
Currently South Africa's political parties are not required to declare sources of their funds or how they use their money.
South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has voiced its support for the regulation of private financing of political parties.
The party said political financing must be transparent in a way that will promote and support democracy.
