The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced on Tuesday that four political parties made donation disclosures during the first quarter of 2022/23, however, two of the four donations were made later than the regulated timeframe.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) disclosed the largest total donation for the quarter with R15 977 687.13. The African National Congress (ANC), which disclosed R10 000 000, made its declaration outside the IEC’s deadline. ActionSA disclosed donations of R750 000, and the Patriotic Alliance (PA), made the other late disclosure of R310 000.

The total amount disclosed by all parties for the quarter was R27 037 687.13.

Of the DA’s total disclosed donations, its single largest donation of R15-million came from Fynbos Ekwiteit, which also made significant donations to the party in the previous financial year.

The ANC’s donation came from the entity Botho-Botho Commercial Enterprise. The IEC clarified that the Botho-Botho Commercial Enterprise should not be confused with Batho-Batho Trust, which made a significant donation to the ANC in the previous year. 

ActionSA’s donations were received from Style Eyes of California (R600 000) and Shave & Gibson Group (R150 000), both of which donated to the party in the last financial year.

The PA received two separate amounts of R150 000 and R160 000 from the party’s leader Gayton McKenzie.

However, the IEC explained that the donations amounting to R150 000 and R160 000 were made on March 7 and March 31, 2022, respectively, which was in breach of the legislation because the donation was declared a quarter late. 

The Commission requested that the PA make a representation explaining the contravention and the IEC revealed that the party had fully complied and that the necessary action had already been taken in accordance with the law.

While the ANC’s R10-million donation was submitted a month later than the regulated deadline and while the donation was made within the reporting quarter, it was declared to the Commission almost a month after the submission deadline of July 31, 2021. 

The Commission has also requested that the ANC provide an explanation for the late submission within 7 days.

IN-KIND & FOREIGN DONATIONS

The total value of in-kind donations declared during the first quarter was R723 493.56, and declared by the DA.

This amount was donated by a DA donor that had previously made donations - the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), which made total aggregate donations of R3 100 044.85 in the previous financial year.

The DA is also the only party to receive foreign donations in the reporting quarter. The total value of such donations is R977 687.13. The FNF donated R723 493.56 and the remaining R254 193.57 was received from Volkspartj voor Vrijheid en Democratie.