DA declares R65m in donations; Motsepe, Oppenheimers, Moshal biggest funders
Political parties declared over R172 million in total between January and March, making it the highest value of donations ever declared since the inception of the Political Party Funding Act.
Democratic Alliance (DA) flag. Picture: X/@DA_Gauteng
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) has pocketed the highest amount in donations in the lead-up to this month's polls, with over R65 million received.
Parties declared over R172 million in total between January and March, making it the highest value of donations ever declared since the inception of the Political Party Funding Act.
Mining companies linked to magnate, Patrice Motsepe, have emerged as the biggest funders of political parties during the same period.
The Electoral Commission (IEC)'s latest report on funding comes on the back of a National Assembly resolution on Thursday, which effectively scraps the limit on donations and the declaration thereof for up to six months.
For the first time since it became mandatory for political parties to declare their donations, that figure has breached the R100 million mark in a single quarter.
Cumulatively, it's also more money than ever declared over the last two financial years.
Thirteen parties have made declarations during the final quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
Through two of his mining companies, Motsepe has donated to the African National Congress (ANC), DA, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Freedom Front Plus.
His R13.8 million donation to the ruling party makes up the bulk of the ANC's total amount of R16 million declared.
Mining family, the Oppenheimers, also continue to bolster the coffers of political parties, with two family members each donating R10 million to the DA and also to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
South Africa’s single biggest individual funder of political parties, Martin Moshal, gave ActionSA R9 million of the total R10 million it's declared.
Moshal also gave the DA R8 million.
Media company, Naspers, gave R2 million to both the ANC and the DA.
On Thursday, the National Assembly gave the president the go-ahead to introduce a new limit for private donations, but until he does so, it will be open season not to make any declarations.