WRAP | Only 3 political parties - ANC, DA and ActionSA - declared donations over R100 000 - IEC

During the briefing in which the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) released its first quarterly report, in line with the provisions of the Political Party Funding Act, it was revealed that only three political parties – the ANC, DA, and ActionSA – declared donations above the R100 000 threshold.

The total value of these declared donations is R30 008 841.74.

The ANC declared individual donations received of R10 720 000, while the DA declared R15 983 751.48 and ActionSA declared "total direct donations" amounting to R3 305 090.26.

During this reporting period, there was only one, solitary donation to the multi-party democracy fund. This donation was made by a member of the public – Mr Paul Malcolm Graham – who made a contribution of R2 000 on 5 May 2021.

According to the IEC, Graham was very proud of his support for multi-party democracy and waived his right to anonymity.

The IEC also took the opportunity to appeal to members of the public and corporates to "open their purses and to support the effort of multi-party democracy".

In response to a question about the EFF not reporting – or seemingly receiving – any donations over the R100 000 threshold, IEC commissioner Dr Nomsa Masuku said it is not their job to "feel anything" about it.

"We are very clear about the things that we can control, and the things that we cannot control. We cannot control who gets a donation and who doesn't get a donation," Masuku said, before wrapping up the briefing.

Dr Masuku fields one final question about the EFF not receiving any "donations above R100 000".

Masuku: "We are very clear about the things that we can control, and the things that we cannot control. We cannot control who gets a donation and who doesn't get a donation. And our job is not to feel anything, our job is to make sure that an election [is right]."

Dr Masuku wraps up the briefing.

"Until a complaint is brought to our attention that a particular political party received donation, and has not done the necessary declaration, the action that the commission will take is to communicate to those political parties around the requirement of declaration."

The challenge that some political parties are going to be faced with is that "there are smaller political parties which are expected to comply with the legislation, however they are not getting money from the state as a result of the fact that they are not represented".

"The complaints that we're getting from those parties is that if we appoint registered auditors, they won't be in a position to pay those auditors, as a result of the fact that [they're] not getting any money from the state."

In response to a question about donations received through crowdfunding, and how it would be monitored in terms of the donation threshold, the IEC says crowdfunding won't be treated differently from any other donations.

"If a member of the 'crowd' donates any amount above R100 000, that has to be declared to the commission. Any amount that is less than R100 000, political parties are obliged to keep record to that effect."

"Part of what the political parties are supposed to do is to appoint the auditors. So we will pick up at the end of the financial year, once the audit has been conducted, that the political party has complied, or has not complied with the provisions of the legislation for any amount that is below the threshold."

"The commission would like to use this occasion to again make an appeal to the South African public and corporates alike to open their purses and to support the effort of multi-party democracy. The sustainability of the multi-party democracy fund is a critical step towards a healthy democracy as envisaged in our Constitution."

IEC commissioner, Dr Nomsa Masuku, is now fielding questions on the back of the opening statement.

In the first quarter of the 2021 to 2022 financial year, the multi-party democracy fund has received only a single contribution from a member of the public - Mr Paul Malcolm Graham. He made a contribution of R2 000 on the 5th of May 2021. This remains the only contribution received in that fund.

Mr Graham was "kind enough and proud enough" of his support for multi-party democracy and waived his right to anonymity.

"We're very pleased to say that since the publication of the report, there has been the necessary compliance and that is something that we are very pleased that that has taken place."

The ANC and the DA declared individual donations that they received of R10 720 000, and R15 983 751.48 respectively. ActionSA declared total direct donations amounting to R3 305 090.26.

In terms of direct donations in respect of this reporting period, "three political parties made declarations of qualifying donations from donors". 

The total value of these declared donations is R30 008 841.74.

"The parties which made the declarations of direct donations, constitute two political parties that are represented, and one unrepresented political party - these are the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), and ActionSA."

The act also puts specific restrictions on sources of funding for political parties. This includes "the prescription of donations by government departments, by state-owned entities, and foreign governments and agencies". These are prohibited.

"Our political party funding regime makes it preemptory for all registered political parties to disclose to the commission all donations above R100 000, which is the threshold in one year."

"Regarding the upper end of the threshold, no donations may be made by a single donor that are in total above R15 million in that year."

The briefing is now under way, with the vice-chairperson of the IEC reading the opening statement on behalf of the commission.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) will release its first quarterly report in a briefing on Thursday at 13:00, in line with the provisions of the Political Party Funding Act No. 6 of 2018 and Regulations.

In terms of the act, political parties are required to disclose all donations above R100 000 received, and the IEC is required to publish, on a quarterly basis, all declarations made.

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