Who has bankrolled SA’s political parties: DA v ANC v EFF?

The amount of money in funding that South Africa’s political parties received in 2024 has garnered a lot of attention in recent weeks in the lead-up to the Wednesday, 29 May general election.

First, the SAPeople website reported how the Electoral Commission (IEC) fined the ANC and other parties for late disclosure of their funding.

Now, the IEC has published full details on how much funding South Africa’s political parties received in the 2023/2024 year.

FUNDING SOUTH AFRICA’S POLITICAL PARTIES

With a week to go to the closest-fought election in South Africa’s 30-year democracy, political parties have secured some notable donations.

Remember, according to the Political Party Funding Act, parties must disclose all donations received above R100 000.

According to donation declarations to the Electoral Commission, political parties in Mzansi have received donations totalling at least R335.5 million for their campaigning efforts.

The latest Party Funding Disclosure Report breaks down donations received for each election candidate/party (listed below from most to least):

• Democratic Alliance (DA) – R126 972 220.31
• African National Congress (ANC) – R47 560 309
• ActionSA – R40 059 610
• Change Starts Now – R35 820 000
• Rise Mzansi – R31 844 186
• Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) – R20 303 514.52
• Build One South Africa with Mmusi Maimane – R16 800 000
• Patriotic Alliance (PA) – R8 351 380
• Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) – R2 640 000
• United Democratic Movement (UDM) – R2 250 000
• Independent South African National Civic Organisation (ISANCO) – R1 599 000
• Vryheidsfront Plus (VF Plus) – R900 600
• Able Leadership (AL) – R360 000
• African Transformation Movement (ATM) – R120 000

FRONT RUNNERS

The Democratic Alliance is streets ahead in the race for declared donations, having reported receiving around R127 million in the past year.

The African National Congress (ANC) and ActionSA take second and third place, reporting around R47 million and R40 million, respectively.

Change Starts Now (which is no longer competing in the elections), Rise Mzansi, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Build One South Africa (BOSA), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), United Democratic Movement (UDM) and the Independent Civic Organisation of South Africa (ISANCO) follow next.

The Vryheidsfront Plus (VF Plus), the African Transformation Movement (ATM) and Able Leadership round out the top 14.

BILLIONAIRE DONORS

The Democratic Alliance’s donations came from various sources, including R10 million from Jonathan Ernest Maximillian Oppenheimer, and NF Oppenheimer, R8 million from Martin Moshal and R10 million from the Gap Infrastructure Corporation. African Rainbow Minerals Limited and Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited, both Patrice Motsepe’s, each donated R2.52 million. Naspers Limited gave R2 million.

The African National Congress (ANC) relied on donations of R6.9 million from companies associated with the mining magnate, Patrice Motsepe. Once again, African Rainbow Minerals Limited and Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited. The rest of the declared donations were received from three different entities in the names of Naspers Limited.

Bizarrely, Change Starts Now (CSN) received the fourth highest amount of funding at R35.82 million.

However, it will not contest the forthcoming elections as it did not meet all of the requirements to appear on the ballot.

One of its largest donations was R15 million from Fynbos Ekwiteit (Pty) Ltd.

We sincerely hope the funds will be returned …

Members of the Oppenheimer family (including Nicky, Jonathan and Rebecca Oppenheimer, as well as Mary Slack) donated a combined R71 million to the DA, Rise Mzansi, the IFP and UDM.

One of the country’s biggest individual donors, Durban-born and Australia-based billionaire Martin Moshal donated R27 million in total to the DA, ActionSA and BOSA.

Harmony Gold Mining and African Rainbow Minerals, linked to billionaire Patrice Motsepe, are notable donors, each contributing R11.04 million to multiple parties, including the ANC (receiving the most funds from them), DA, EFF and VF Plus.

A comprehensive list of all donors can be viewed HERE.

DON’T FORGET