Are political donors unfairly swaying SA’s democracy after DA’s R225m revealed?
The DA received R225 million in political donations prior to the 2026 local government elections.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) spent R225 million on their 2026 local government election campaign, according to a recent report. The funding came from various sources, including four months before the election, and a significant amount from 28 different donors between April and June 2026. The Slack family contributed at least R20 million, while the Ball family contributed R10 million through their trust.
Capitec founder Michiel le Roux's Fynbos Ekwiteit contributed at least R60 million. While the DA's funding is legal, critics argue that it unduly influences the election process, especially when compared to other parties. Political analyst Andre Duvenage defended the DA's fundraising ability, stating that individuals have the right to support their preferred political party financially.
However, Hermann Pretorius, head of strategic communications at the Institute of Race Relations, emphasized that the real issue lies in whether the funds were obtained through improper means. Critics believe that the DA's financial muscle risks skewing election results in favor of those with the deepest pockets, thus undermining the democratic process.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
