Why business funds political ideas

Money plays an important role in politics. Cashstrapped political parties fail to attract members and votes. Some of these parties have good policies, but due to lack of money, they are disregarded.

Hence, political parties need to work closely with businesses to attract funding. However, some parties detest business because it’s white-owned. As a result, they don’t get funding.

The pertinent question is: what is the relationship between business, politics and political parties? For the record, politics affect business. When politics are bad, business is affected. This makes business have a vested interest in politics.

On the other hand, political parties need funding to do a lot of things, including campaigning. So, they need business. By the same token, business needs government to create a conducive environment for it to thrive.

The new kid on the block, Rise Mzansi, under the leadership of Songezo Zibi, pictured, has raised more money than other parties. The major donor is apparently the Oppenheimers. This explains why Rise Mzansi is visible and everywhere.

EFF leader Julius Malema has raised concerns about a family member of the Oppenheimers’ donation to Rise Mzansi. Malema alleges that she wants to influence policy direction or determine which party becomes the next governing party.

Have the red berets not received donations from business before? A few years back, EFF received money for registration from the alleged cigarette smuggler Adriano Mazzotti. From what I have read, tycoon Patrice Motsepe has also contributed to the party.

Small parties receive small donations, if at all, from business. Why? Is it because of the size of their parties? If they receive little money, they will never grow and eventually they die. Does that mean business is biased? Maybe it has nothing to gain from them.

The pertinent questions are: what criteria does business use to donate to political parties? Does it look at party policies or does it just pick them? Does it donate with the intent to influence policy or elections outcome? There are no easy answers.

Thabile Mange

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