ELECTORAL COMMISSION PUBLISHES POLITICAL PARTY DONATIONS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 2026/27 FINANCIAL YEAR
BY: CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS | ONLINE EDITOR
ELECTORAL COMMISSION PUBLISHES POLITICAL PARTY DONATIONS FOR FIRST QUARTER OF 2026/27 FINANCIAL YEAR
The Electoral Commission hereby publishes the declaration of political party donations for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, covering the period 1 April to 30 June 2026.
The publication comes against the backdrop of the formal proclamation of 4 November 2026 as the date for the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE2026). The election date was proclaimed on 7 August 2026, providing certainty to political parties, donors and other stakeholders. The proclamation signaled the commencement of the final phase of preparations for the elections.
The Commission expects the formalization of the election date to contribute to increased political fundraising and campaign expenditure. The declarations published for this quarter already reflect a significant level of political funding activity and provide an early indication of the financial mobilization taking place ahead of LGE2026.
The reporting cycle continues under the revised disclosure framework, which increased the disclosure threshold from R100 000 to R200 000 and the annual upper donation limit from R15 million to R30 million. R116.8 million in Donations Declared Four political parties made declarations during the reporting period, collectively declaring R 116 784 185.25 in donations. This comprises R 111 500 004.00 in monetary donations and R 5 284 181.25 in in-kind donations.
The declarations are distributed as follows:
Political Party Funding first Quarter 2026/2027
Democratic Alliance (DA)
R116 784 185.25
R5 500 000.00
R5 000 000.00
R2 250 000.00
Total Donations
Total R104 034 185.25
The Democratic Alliance (DA) recorded the largest quantum of donations, accounting for approximately 89% of the total donations declared during the quarter. The value and concentration of donations recorded during the quarter are notable given the proximity of the local government elections. The Commission anticipates that the volume and value of political donations is likely to increase further as parties intensify fundraising for purposes of campaigning and voter mobilization. Democratic Alliance – R 104 million The DA declared total donations of R 104 034 185.25, comprising R 98 750 004.00 in monetary donations and R 5 284 181.25 in in-kind donations. The monetary declarations included a number of significant contributions, including: ▪ R 30 million from Fynbos Ekwiteit (Pty) Ltd; ▪ R 25 million from Fynbos Kapitaal (Pty) Ltd; ▪ R 10 million from Mr D Barnes; ▪ R 5 million from Mrs R Slack Diamond; ▪ R 5 million from Ms J Slack Jell; ▪ R 5 million from Mr M Moshal; ▪ R 5 million from Lombard Consolidated Pty Ltd; ▪ R 2.5 million from Kerry Road Trust; and ▪ R 2 million from Predator Securities (Pty) Ltd.
The DA also reported significant in-kind donations, including expenditure incurred on its behalf for advertising, staffing, legal services and campaign-related assets. Among these were R2.78 million from Voices of South Africa Foundation NPC, R 1.16 million from Make a Difference Trust (MAD), R 815 891.08 from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), and R 528 655 from Mr and Mrs T Madilonga in respect of two vehicles for use by the party.
ActionSA – R 5.5 million ActionSA declared donations totalling R 5.5 million, comprising R5 million from Mr Martin Moshal and R 500 000 from Siyaya Free To Air TV (Pty) Ltd. The Commission has identified a compliance matter relating to the Siyaya Free To Air TV donation. While ActionSA has made its declaration, the corresponding declaration by the donor remains outstanding. The Commission has accordingly issued the necessary direction to address the non-compliant disclosure.
Labour Party of South Africa – R 5 million The Labour Party of South Africa, a party that was formed and launched in early 2024 by the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), declared a monetary donation of R 5 million from the very Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU). The donation was a monetary donation made on 30 June 2026.
RISE Mzansi – R 2.25 million RISE Mzansi declared donations totaling R 2.25 million, comprising R 1.25 million from Ungani Investments (Pty) Ltd and R1 million from Captrust Investments (Pty) Ltd. The donations were made in monetary terms on 11 and 29 May 2026, respectively. Both these donations are fully compliant with the requirements of the Act.
African National Congress (ANC): Donations Requiring Further Compliance Action The Electoral Commission has identified many compliance matters relating to donations to the African National Congress (ANC). The Commission has received submissions relating to ANC donations from both the party and donors. All these submissions have not met the requirements of the Political Funding Act and the applicable disclosure framework. The deficiencies identified include, among others:
▪ failure to submit the required dual disclosure;
▪ failure by the donor and/or recipient to submit the required declaration;
▪ failure to provide proof of the underlying transaction;
▪ failure to provide required supporting documentation; and
▪ late reporting of donations.
The value of donations currently identified in this process totals R 15 270 000, comprising: ▪ R 270 000 from Captrust Investment (Pty) Ltd; and ▪ R 15 million from Batho Batho Trust.
These donations have not been included in the total of compliant donations published above, as the relevant compliance requirements have not been satisfied. The Commission has nevertheless considered it necessary, in the interests of transparency, to make the information available to the public while the applicable regulatory processes are being pursued. Late ANC Declarations
The ANC has also reported many donations relating to the 2025/26 financial year after the prescribed reporting periods.
These include:
▪ Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES): R 501 230.29 in-kind donation made on 31 July 2025;
▪ Botho Botho Commercial Enterprises (Pty) Ltd: R 10 million donation made on 15 December 2025;
▪ Valumax Projects: R 500 000 donation made on 20 March 2026;
▪ Batho Batho Trust: R 15 million in-kind donation made on 1 April 2025; and
▪ Batho Batho Trust: R 15 million monetary donation made on 29 December 2025.
These declarations have failed compliance tests in many respects, including late reporting, failure to provide proof of transaction by the donor and/or recipient, and failure to ensure dual disclosure.
Accordingly, these donations have not been included in the tabulated total of compliant donations.
Again, the Electoral Commission has resolved to disclose information in the interests of transparency while the relevant regulatory processes are underway. Pertinently, the ANC has been issued with the requisite section 15 direction to address the identified compliance deficiencies.
Failure to comply with the issued direction may result in further regulatory action, including withholding future allocations from the Political Representatives Fund (PRF) and the Multi-Party Democracy Fund (MPDF).
Continued non-compliance may also result in referral to the Electoral Court for appropriate sanctions in terms of the Act. The Electoral Commission emphasizes that the publication of these matters should not be construed as a finding that the underlying donations are unlawful. Rather, the issue at this stage concerns compliance with the statutory disclosure and verification requirements applicable to political funding.
LGE2026 AND THE POLITICAL FUNDING ENVIRONMENT
As indicated, the proclamation of 4 November 2026 as the election date marks an important milestone in the political funding environment. As parties move into an increasingly intensive campaign period, the Electoral Commission expects political funding activity to increase substantially. Increased expenditure on advertising, digital campaigning, political events, voter mobilization, transportation, campaign materials and professional services is likely to generate increased demand for funding.
The election period also creates heightened compliance risks.
The Commission will pay particular attention to:
▪ high-value donations;
▪ late declarations;
▪ discrepancies between donor and party disclosures;
▪ third-party expenditure and in-kind contributions;
▪ proof and verification of transactions;
▪ foreign funding; and
▪ compliance with the applicable disclosure thresholds and annual donation limits.
The Commission reminds political parties and donors that transparency in political funding is dependent not only on disclosure, but on accurate, complete, timely and verifiable disclosure.
CONCLUSION
The publication of the first quarter declarations provides an important snapshot of the political funding environment ahead of LGE2026.
Political parties declared R116.78 million in donations during the quarter, with the DA accounting for most of the declared funding.
The level of funding already being mobilized, together with the formalization of the 4 November 2026 election date, points to a likely increase in political fundraising and expenditure as the election approaches.
The Commission remains committed to ensuring that increased political funding activity is accompanied by effective transparency, accountability and compliance.
The Commission will continue to publish declarations, monitor compliance by political parties and donors, issue directions where deficiencies are identified and pursue appropriate regulatory and enforcement measures where required.
The Commission further encourages political parties and donors to ensure that all political funding transactions are reported accurately and within the prescribed periods, supported by appropriate proof of transaction, and disclosed by both the donor and recipient where required.
As South Africa moves towards the 2026 Local Government Elections, credible and transparent political funding remains essential to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
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