IEC flags R30m Rise Mzansi donation as DA leads party funding disclosures

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has raised questions about a R30 million donation declared by RISE Mzansi while publishing its political party funding disclosures for January to March 2026, which show parties reported a combined R97.2 million in funding ahead of the local government elections.

Who gave what: headline figures

The IEC’s latest disclosure shows political parties declared a total of R97.2 million in funding for the quarter. That total comprises R94.8 million in cash donations and R2.4 million in non-monetary contributions.

DA dominates fundraising

The Democratic Alliance (DA) declared the largest share of donations, reporting R57.3 million in total funding nearly 60% of all disclosed donations during the period. The DA’s declared receipts included R54.9 million in monetary donations and R2.4 million in in-kind support.

Major monetary contributors named in the DA’s disclosures included Main Street 1564 (Pty) Ltd, Fynbos Ekwiteit (Pty) Ltd, M. Slack and Fynbos Kapitaal (Pty) Ltd, each of which contributed between R10 million and R13 million. Other notable donations to the DA included R4 million from G. Ryan, R3 million from D. Barnes and R1.27 million from the Danish Liberal Democracy Programme.

The DA also reported non-financial assistance from the Voices of South Africa Foundation and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

RISE Mzansi’s R30 million under scrutiny

RISE Mzansi declared a single R30 million donation, one of the largest individual entries in mandatory disclosures. The party reported that the amount arose from the conversion of a prior loan into a donation from an entity identified as “We Are The People”.

The IEC said the transaction did not originate as a direct donation and that the terms of the loan conversion are being examined to determine whether they comply with the Political Party Funding Act. The commission confirmed it is seeking further information about the declaration.

Other party disclosures and compliance queries

ActionSA declared donations totalling R9.9 million, including R5 million from businessman Martin Moshal, R1 million from Siyaya Free to Air TV and R1 million from African Equity Corporation. The party also reported approximately R2.9 million in cumulative donations from its leader, Herman Mashaba.

The IEC highlighted a late disclosure by the Alliance of Citizens for Change (A.C.C.), which declared a R440,500 donation from founder Masizole Mnqasela nearly a year after it was received; the commission has requested an explanation.

Build One South Africa (BOSA) declared an in-kind donation of R113,794.60 from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

The ANC was asked to account for donor declarations worth R770,000 that had not been acknowledged by the party when the report was published. The party also submitted late declarations totalling R10.5 million, including R10 million from Botho Botho Commercial Enterprises and R501,230.21 from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung.

Context ahead of local elections

The IEC’s report comes as political parties prepare for the local government elections scheduled for 4 November 2026, a date announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The disclosed figures underline the scale of funding entering the contest and have prompted further scrutiny by the commission under the Political Party Funding Act.