Political party donations surged to nearly 98 million rand during the first quarter of the year, marking a sevenfold increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Electoral Commission’s latest quarterly report. The Democratic Alliance topped declared contributions, while Rise Mzansi recorded the second-most significant rise in funding disclosures.
George Mahlangu, the IEC’s Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for Party Funding, attributed the sharp increase to the approaching local government elections. “This is not a surprise,” Mahlangu stated. “Since the implementation of the act, we have observed that in election years, donations to political parties rise significantly.”
Mahlangu outlined the Commission’s investigative approach, emphasizing that probes into undeclared party funding require a formal complaint backed by prima facie evidence. “Before we investigate, there must be prima facie evidence,” he explained. “Whoever brings a complaint about a political party not declaring donations must provide that evidence; otherwise, we do not proactively investigate parties.” The law mandates a dual-disclosure system: donors report contributions to the Commission, and political parties must subsequently declare receipts.
Regarding concentrated funding sources, Mahlangu addressed scrutiny over Rise Mzansi’s receipt of approximately 30 million rand from a single account, representing about 90% of its declared quarterly donations. He confirmed this fell within legal limits, noting the 30 million rand threshold per single donor was reviewed and reaffirmed in 2024 ahead of the national elections. “Anything above that is a transgression of the law,” Mahlangu said. The Commission is additionally reviewing the terms under which a loan was converted into a donation in this specific case.
The IEC is also seeking clarity from the African National Congress regarding two donations received during the quarter. According to donor-submitted documentation, one contribution was directed to an entity referenced in the prescribed form, while another was made to the ANC Veterans League. Mahlangu noted that the law requires donations to be deposited into bank accounts prescribed by legislation. The Commission has formally requested the ANC explain why these contributions were not declared. In the interest of transparency, the IEC 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 Commission during the current reporting cycle.
Mahlangu acknowledged structural limitations within the current legislative framework. “There are weaknesses in the law,” he said. “We have to operate within the four corners of this law. If it’s weak, we implement it with its weaknesses.” During the 2021/22 financial year, 438 political parties were fined through the Electoral Court. Recovering these penalties has proven challenging, as some sanctioned parties lack bank accounts or have incorrect addresses on record. Because these are court-ordered sanctions, the IEC must follow legal procedures precisely. If recovery efforts fail, the Commission must report back to the court, a process Mahlangu described as costly and complex.
He highlighted another gap: the IEC typically cannot detect undisclosed donations unless a third party comes forward with evidence. “If both the political party and the donor don’t declare the donations, we won’t know until a disgruntled member who knows about this comes forward,” Mahlangu explained. He added that some individuals who initially offer information fail to provide the required prima facie evidence when formally requested.
Mahlangu also contrasted South Africa’s income-based funding model with expenditure-based frameworks used elsewhere. Under the current system, parties may receive multiple donations at the 30 million rand threshold from various sources, but the law does not cap how that money is spent during campaigns. “In other jurisdictions, expenditure is capped, which creates a level playing field,” he noted, citing the United Kingdom as an example. However, he acknowledged that even expenditure-capped systems face compliance challenges, as parties sometimes exceed spending limits and later use raised funds to pay resulting penalties.
Looking ahead, Mahlangu expressed hope that lawmakers would consider legislative refinements to address identified gaps. Until then, the Commission remains committed to enforcing the existing framework while maintaining transparency through the publication of donor-declared information. As Mahlangu emphasized, the integrity of the electoral process—and public trust in how campaigns are funded—depends on robust, enforceable disclosure mechanisms.