Political parties represented in Parliament shared over R3.24 billion in 2023/24 through private funding, allocation from Parliament and provincial legislatures, and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

According to lobby group My Vote Counts (MVC), the ANC received the lion’s share of nearly R1.72bn and the DA was allocated about R655 million, while the EFF got over R309m.

The list does not include uMkhonto weSizwe Party as it only contested elections for the first time in May last year following its establishment in December 2023.

In the 2023/24 financial year, the IEC received disclosure reports from Parliament and all nine provincial legislatures in respect of the funding of represented political parties.

An amount of about R1.56bn from Parliament and nine provincial legislatures was allocated to 15 represented political parties.

The ANC’s R1.72bn allocation includes R905m from Parliament and provincial legislatures, R527m through private funding, and R286m from the IEC-administered represented political parties and multi-party democracy funds, according to MVC.

The DA received R311m from Parliament and provincial legislatures, R213m through private funding, and R121m from the IEC.

The EFF’s R309m includes R180m from Parliament and provincial legislatures, R79m from the commission, and R51m in private funding.

A few months ago, the National Assembly’s Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs voted to double two crucial limits in the Political Funding Act.

This means the disclosure threshold and donations cap could be raised from R100,000 to R200,000 and R15m to R30m, respectively.

The MVC was among several organisations that objected during the public participation process, after which the committee unanimously voted to adopt a report and resolution recommending the increase.

“In passing the resolution, the committee chose to disregard both relevant empirical considerations and the public interest, in favour of political expediency,” the group accused the committee.

It noted that funding through the represented political parties’ fund (RPPF), as revealed in Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget, barely increases over the next few financial years.

“This belies the passion with which parties spoke about the need for more funding during the parliamentary processes… If parties are indeed so desperate for additional funding, why did they accept a Budget that offers them a real-term reduction in public funding?” it asked.

The amount allocated to represented parties through the RPPF in 2022/23 was R342m, and R322m is the adjusted appropriation for 2024/25.

The R850m for 2023/24 was an anomaly as an additional amount was distributed to parties to allow them to prepare for the 2024 national and provincial elections.

The MVC noted that, overall, the amounts remain relatively constant for the next few years, with an amount of R367m estimated for 2027/28.

Addressing the IEC’s first symposium on political party funding in South Africa in Durban this week, Godongwana called for more government funding for political parties.

“As things stand, political parties are not sufficiently funded, but they rely on private funding. In my view, political parties must be fully publicly funded,” he said.

Godongwana added that he did not want the SA Revenue Service entering the political terrain to investigate politicians, as its independence and integrity will be compromised. He also said the same applied to the IEC.

loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za

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