It is globally recognised that political donations are a source of corruption at every level of government. Where such funding is concealed, opaque or abused, it is an opportunity for graft.

Foxes guarding the hen house

Without substantial pressure from civil society, it is simply not in the interest of political parties to disclose their donors. There is an understandable case for donor privacy — but the public good outweighs it, given how endemic the problem is.

The self-declarations paint an uncomfortable, and on their face implausible, picture. In the first quarter of 2024 the IEC recorded:

• Democratic Alliance — R56 601 039
• Inkatha Freedom Party — R38 340 000
• Rise Mzansi — R33 895 000
• African National Congress — R26 015 313
• ActionSA — R13 186 000
• Build One South Africa — R12 877 709
• Patriotic Alliance — R6 649 900
• GOOD — R600 000
• Economic Freedom Fighters — R515 313
• South African Rainbow Alliance — R400 000
• uMkhonto weSizwe Party — R380 555
• African Christian Democratic Party — R240 000
• Change Starts Now — R150 000
• ISANCO — R100 000

Fourteen parties declared anything at all. It is not credible that established parties contesting a national election were running on declared donations of a few hundred thousand rand over three months while newer parties declared six and eight million. Part of the explanation is structural: the Act only requires disclosure of donations above a threshold, and parties also draw on public funding. But that is precisely the point — the disclosure regime as it stands does not show the public where the money comes from.

What should change

Political parties are public entities and should be required by law to declare not only all donations, but all income, expenditure and assets — including goods and services provided in kind or at a discount.

Investigations have alleged that signatures were forged to register new parties. Any minimum reporting threshold is therefore easily manipulated by splitting or routing donations. The Act’s rules on donations from foreign entities, and on funded trips abroad, are as clear as mud.

Until we have a more honest political culture, we will be forced to police it. Without that oversight, the honest public will lose trust in the political system altogether. As in many industries, lobbying, influence and bribery are endemic in politics. That makes oversight non-negotiable.

SAMNET calls on civil society to press urgently for stronger party funding and financial reporting legislation.

Politics is too important to leave to the politicians.

Sources

• The HSRC responds to a call to strengthen the Political Party Funding Act — Human Sciences Research Council.
• SA’s Electoral Commission publishes political funding disclosure report, 3 September 2024. The underlying disclosures are published by the IEC.

Shared by the South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) in the interest of fighting corruption, increasing political oversight and reducing external influence on South African politics.