South Africa’s political parties declared nearly R231 million in private donations during the 2024/25 financial year, according to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
However, new legislation threatens to dilute transparency just as the country approaches the 2026 local government elections.
The IEC’s latest quarterly disclosure report shows that R14.19 million was declared in the fourth quarter (January-March 2025), a notable dip reflecting ongoing trends of lower contributions outside election periods.
Only three parties – the ANC, Democratic Alliance (DA), and ActionSA – made disclosures during this period.
Breakdown of Q4 donations
- ANC: R7 million
- R4 million from Chancellor House Trust
- R3 million from Naspers Limited
- (Chancellor House has donated R11 million in 2024/25 — still under the R15 million legal cap)
- DA: R6.19 million
- R3 million from Naspers
- R1.04 million (in-kind) from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) for internal training and strategy
- R743,687 from Main Street 1564
- Smaller contributions from Polyoak Packaging, DKS Cleaners, and private individuals
- ActionSA: R1 million
- From African Equity Corporation (Pty) Ltd
Transparency on the chopping block?
The Political Party Funding Act (PPFA), enacted in 2018 and enforced from 2021, was a landmark law meant to regulate and increase transparency in party financing.
It:
- Required donations above R100 000 to be disclosed
- Capped annual donations from a single source at R15 million
- Banned funding from foreign governments and state-owned entities
- Introduced public funding via the Represented Political Parties Fund and Multi-Party Democracy Fund (MPDF)
However, this framework is now under threat.
Controversial legislative changes incoming
Earlier this year, Parliament passed a resolution – not yet enacted – to double both:
- The minimum disclosure threshold to R200 000
- The maximum annual private donation limit to R30 million per donor
This is despite criticism from civil society and findings by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) that South Africa’s R15 million cap already made it an international outlier in donation limits.
Civil society watchdog My Vote Counts (MVC) has fiercely criticised the proposal and has filed legal action to block it.
The group said the changes are “a step backwards for democracy” and undermine the public’s right to access information on political funding.
“If the president signs off on this, it will lead to greater secrecy just as South Africa prepares for another heated election cycle,” MVC said.
“It’s a fruit of the poisoned tree.”
Lack of disclosure from other major parties
While parties like the ANC and DA consistently report large donations, the EFF and MK Party – both major players in the 2024 elections – declared R3.2 million and just R380 555, respectively, in the entire 2023/24 cycle.
These low figures raise red flags about undeclared funding and enforcement loopholes.
Outlook for 2026
With municipal elections looming in 2026 and campaign activity ramping up, political donations are expected to increase – but transparency may decrease if the president enacts the Parliamentary resolution.
Despite tight finances, no increase in public party funding has been approved for 2025/26, making parties more dependent on private backers.
Yet, without robust regulation, civil society fears the system is becoming more opaque and vulnerable to undue influence.
Key figures
- Total 2024/25 declared donations: R231 million
- Top Q4 donor: Naspers (R6 million combined to ANC and DA)
- Donation threshold (pending change): R100 000 → R200 000
- Annual cap (pending change): R15 million → R30 million
If you had the money, would you donate to any particular party – and how much?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1
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