Corruption Watch wrote to the Presidency on 3 December 2020 urging the setting of a starting date for the Political Party Funding Act before 1 April 2021, in time for the local government elections. Otherwise, the transparency lobby group would go to court for an interdict to compel commencement. “Corruption Watch welcomes the response from the Presidency at the end of 2020 confirming that, following consultations between the Department of Home Affairs and the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), the Act will be proclaimed on or before 1 April 2021,” it said on 9 January. However, no further details could be obtained from the Presidency and a call to Home Affairs (the IEC falls into this portfolio) also failed to yield clarity. But the IEC confirmed it had done all that’s needed – from regulations to training and an online private donation declaration system. “The regulations cover all areas of pperation of the ACt… The announcement of the proclamation (commencement) date remains the prerogative of the president,” said IEC Chief Executive: Poltical Party Funding George Mahlangu in a written comment on Thursday.