Political parties declared nearly 98 million rand in donor funding during the January–March quarter, a figure almost seven times higher than the same period in the previous year, according to the Electoral Commission’s fourth quarter report. The Democratic Alliance led in declared donations, with Rise Mzansi reporting the second-largest increase.
George Mahlangu, the IEC’s Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for Party Funding, stated that the surge aligns with historical patterns observed during election years, as local government elections approach. “This is not a surprise… in the year of the elections we see a rise in donations from various political parties,” Mahlangu said.
Mahlangu clarified the Commission’s investigative protocol, emphasizing that the IEC does not proactively probe parties for undeclared funding without a formal complaint supported by prima facie evidence. “Before we investigate there must be prima facie evidence. Whoever brings a complaint… must provide us with that evidence; otherwise we don’t go around and investigate political parties,” he explained. He noted the law mandates dual disclosure: donors report to the Commission, and parties subsequently declare receipts.
Addressing scrutiny over concentrated funding, Mahlangu confirmed that Rise Mzansi’s receipt of approximately 30 million rand from a single source fell within legal parameters. The 30 million rand threshold per single donor was reviewed and upheld in 2024. “Anything above that is a transgression of the law,” he stated, adding that the Commission is reviewing the terms under which a loan was converted into a donation in this instance.
Mahlangu also disclosed that the IEC is seeking clarification from the African National Congress regarding two donations received during the quarter. According to donor-submitted forms, one was directed to an entity referenced in documentation and another to the ANC Veterans League. The law requires donations to be deposited into prescribed bank accounts. The Commission has requested the ANC explain why these were not declared, and in the interest of transparency, is publishing the donor-reported figures while awaiting the party’s response. A further donation relating to the prior quarter was only submitted to the IEC during the current reporting period.
Acknowledging limitations in the legislative framework, Mahlangu noted enforcement challenges. During the 2021/22 financial year, 438 political parties were fined through the Electoral Court, but recovering these penalties has proven difficult. “Some of these political parties that were fined don’t even have bank accounts. Some addresses are incorrect,” he said.
Mahlangu highlighted structural gaps, including reliance on third-party complaints to trigger investigations. “If both the political party and the donor don’t declare the donations, we won’t know until… a disgruntled member… comes forward,” he explained, noting that some complainants fail to provide required evidence when requested.
Comparing South Africa’s income-based funding framework to expenditure-based models used in jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, Mahlangu observed that while South African law caps donations per source, it does not limit campaign spending. “In other jurisdictions… expenditure is capped, which creates a level playing field,” he said. He acknowledged, however, that even expenditure-capped systems face compliance challenges, as parties sometimes exceed limits and pay penalties afterward.
Mahlangu expressed hope that lawmakers will consider strengthening the legislation to address identified weaknesses, while affirming the Commission’s commitment to operating within current legal parameters.
