EFF laments ‘expensive’ democracy as election costs hit R1 Billion

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have criticised the high cost of maintaining South Africa’s democratic processes, claiming the party spends roughly R1 billion during every election cycle.

The party has been hosting its three-day National People’s Assembly at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg since Friday.

On Saturday, delegates received presentations from the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), Statistics SA, and the Municipal Demarcation Board.

These briefings come as the EFF prepares for the upcoming local government elections. EFF Deputy President Godrich Gardee argued that the financial burden of frequent polling undermines the spirit of the country’s democracy.

“2024, for example—don’t laugh—the EFF spent a billion rands. In the 2024 elections alone," Gardee said.

"Two and a half years later, you are taking us to other elections, another R1 billion. And once we have finished the local government elections in November 2026, [in] 2029 we are going to another election. Another billion rand.”

Gardee questioned the sustainability of the current cycle, suggesting that the pressure to secure such vast funding contributes to political misconduct.

“What kind of expensive democracy you are taking us through? Are you not able to tell government this thing is just impossible? That’s why political parties and politicians will be so corrupt to finance this democracy every two and a half years,” he added.