Political parties have declared more than R170 million in donations for their political activities ahead of the elections today.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has released its published declarations report detailing which political parties attracted the most donations to their purse for the 2023/24 financial year.
Political parties in South Africa are obliged to disclose donations they have received above R100 000 as well as who funded them.
“The total declared value of donations has for the very first time since the inception of the Party Funding Act (which requires donation declarations over a certain threshold) surpassed the R100 million mark in any one quarter,” said the IEC.
Releasing the data on Friday, the IEC said R100 000 was cumulative and should be declared immediately when the total value reaches R100 000.
The report revealed that the DA was number one on the list with the highest amount of donations.
The party received R65 011 359 for the quarter received from Naspers Limited, Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (R2 520 000) and the Oppenheimer family.
Second on the list was Change Starts Now (CSN) with R35 820 000. The party had, however, since announced it would not be contesting the 2024 elections.
The IFP came in at number three on the list which declared R20 million in party donations from the Oppenheimer family.
The ANC came in at number four, raking in nearly R17 million.
Number five was ActionSA with funding of over R10 million.
The EFF declared an amount of R2 640 000.
Umkhonto weSizwe Party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, did not disclose their donations.
Able Leadership - R300 000
ActionSA - R10 525 000
ANC - R16 782 000
African Transformation Movement - R120 000
Change Starts Now - R35 820 000
DA - R65 011 359
EFF - R2 640 000
Independent South African National Civic Organisation - R1 599 000
IFP - R20 000 000
Patriotic Alliance - R1 030 000
Rise Mzansi - R15 100 000
United Democratic Movement - R750 000
Vryheids Front Plus - R169 600
The Star
mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za