Cape Town — ActionSA has expressed concerns about the Independent Electoral Commission’s (IEC) handling of the R150 million Ezulweni debt settlement and raised issues regarding the funding disclosures of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) parties.
In a statement, ActionSA’s National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont, criticised the discrepancies between the disclosed figures and actual campaign expenditures.
He pointed out that while the EFF reported spending R3.5 million since the beginning of the 2022/23 financial year, it is estimated that the party spent over R100 million on stadiums alone in the election year.
Beaumont also questioned the MK Party’s disclosure of R400,000, noting that it is one of the most well-funded parties.
“ActionSA contends that the IEC is not only the only institution in government empowered to investigate these matters but that the IEC cannot wait for a party to self-incriminate before its legal obligations in terms of the Act kick in,” he said.
Beaumont said that the IEC must investigate any party that fails to report funding exceeding its disclosed amounts and that ActionSA will adhere to the IEC’s processes in addressing the discrepancies with both parties.
ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beamont says both MK party and the EFF are not honest with their declaration. Action SA has accused the EFF and MK party of not being honest with their financial declaration to the IEC. The party’s national chairperson Michael Beaumont says… pic.twitter.com/KPOfPMzoHM
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 3, 2024
ActionSA alleges that interest accrued since 2019 could mean the actual debt exceeds R150 million.
The party claims the settlement should not have been discounted by more than R15 million, and that the ANC only reported R10 million in disclosures for the quarter in which the settlement was made. Additionally, the ANC failed to declare any donors who contributed more than R100,000 and did not disclose the required minimum of 10 donors to settle the account.
Beaumont also highlighted that Ezulweni Investments is a registered vendor for at least one KZN municipality, where it has been awarded tenders.
“ActionSA’s efforts to engage the IEC to investigate this matter eventually led to correspondence from the IEC in March 2024 confirming that they were handling the matter in terms of the Act and no further communication has been forthcoming,” he said.
In response, the IEC informed ActionSA that they had reversed their previous position and found no prima facie evidence to warrant an investigation.
ActionSA is also taking its concerns around political party funding to the courts. The party had asked the IEC to investigate the over R150-million Ezulweni debt settlement agreement, but the commission found no prima facie evidence to warrant an investigation. It will now try to… pic.twitter.com/4x61xXEs0r
— eNCA (@eNCA) September 3, 2024
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: X/@insightfactor
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
