Donors pump millions into election campaigns
MAJOR political parties in South Africa have admitted receiving millions in donations for their respective campaigns in the local government elections which left more than 66 municipalities failing to reach an outright majority.
The political parties in some of these hung municipalities are expected to engage in intense talks today to form coalition governments ahead of Tuesday’s deadline to clinch deals and elect speakers and mayors.
Last night, ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba was one of the party leaders who acknowledged his party received donations amounting to more than R16.9 million to fund its campaign.
Mashaba made the disclosures after the Electoral Commission released its 2nd quarter funding disclosures report yesterday. In the report, the Oppenheimer family, businessman Martin Moshal and Naspers collectively donated over R30m to ActionSA and the DA ahead of this year’s local government elections.
The report revealed that Rebecca Oppenheimer contributed R3.3m, Victoria Freudenheim R3.3m and Jessica Slack-Jell R3.3m to ActionSA, while Moshal contributed R5m.
Moshal also emerged as a key funder of the DA with a contribution of R15m while Naspers contributed R1m to the party.
Major contributors to the cashstrapped ANC were African Rainbow Minerals owned by Patrice Motsepe, with a R5.8m contribution, while the Chancellor House Trust contributed R15m and NEP Consulting R1m.
Party’s president Cyril Ramaphosa contributed a total of R366000.
Mashaba said his party was proud of its association with their donors, who were committed to South Africa and had generously donated to its political future.
“Importantly, our donors have been willing to do so openly and transparently. Our donors have communicated their satisfaction with ActionSA’s electoral showing, and already, ActionSA has received increased interest from funders across the board,” he said.
DA federal finance chairperson Dr Dion George also confirmed the identities of their donors, including Naspers and Moshal, but the party emphasised that they voluntarily made such disclosures to the IEC.
While confirming donations and the amounts, Dr George expressed concerns about the IEC’s report, saying it failed to reveal which political parties did not make financial disclosures.
“This needs to be resolved urgently.
The report does not achieve its stated objective of ensuring transparency in the funding of political parties. The ANC have declared a R15m donation from the Chancellor House Trust. That is their fund-raising entity clearly structured to contravene the act.
“By receiving donations to the Trust, they conceal the source of their donations.,” George said.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe did not confirm donations made to his party but said it was possible that the party’s treasury unit had made such disclosures to the IEC.
Donors could not be reached for comment.
Other parties which made disclosures included the Abantu Integrity Movement of Mkhuseli Jack in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. Jack, who stood as an independent candidate and secured a seat in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, made a contribution of R112386 from his own trust fund.
Others were the ACDP (R235 000) and Good (R122 900).
The FF+, EFF and IFP had not made any declarations to the IEC.