Briefing Paper

SA Democracy Incorporated Corporate Fronts and Political Party Funding

“The purpose of this research paper was to identify possible sources of private funding to South Africa’s political parties, beyond the annual state allocation, which are potentially corrupting and/or subverting the will of the electorate. The lack of legislation to regulate the flow of private funds to political parties is one of the greatest threats to South Africa’s sanctified democracy. The paper analyses how Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment
has been misapplied by some individuals and companies seeking party funding opportunities. The paper does not seek to attack the principle of BEE, which it fully supports; rather it critiques the exploitation of the policy for ulterior financial gains, revealing a new corporate front used by the ruling African National Congress to seek profit on its own behalf. The paper also provides a quantitative assessment of sources of funding to the opposition Democratic Alliance.”