Rise Mzansi's Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Lukhona Mnguni, has defended the party's acceptance of donations
Image: Facebook/Rise Mzansi
Rise Mzansi's Johannesburg mayoral candidate, Lukhona Mnguni, has defended the party's acceptance of donations from wealthy individuals, including businesswoman Rebecca Oppenheimer, saying such contributions do not buy political influence.
Speaking at a recent event, Mnguni addressed questions about the party's funding, including a donation previously made by businesswoman Rebecca Oppenheimer.
He acknowledged that Rise Mzansi had received support from several donors, including businessman Peter Vundla and the Sandile Zungu Family Trust among others.
Mnguni said it was understandable that people become sceptical when political parties receive millions of rand in donations, but argued that campaign costs are often underestimated.
"Politics is very expensive. R10 million in politics is not a lot of money. R10 million is 200,000 posters," he said.
He said the Oppenheimer family is politically diverse.
"The Oppenheimers are a very diverse family of people, and actually, they don't have the same political outlook about South Africa, and that's why Rebecca will tell you Rebecca Oppenheimer donated to Rise Mzanzi, not the Oppenheimer family.
"I think it's important to state that because Rebecca has different politics from her own mother, Mary Slack. She'll tell you my mom will probably die funding the DA. That's just who she is. She'll tell you my mom will probably die funding the DA.
"That's just who she is. Veronica Oppenheimer will probably give money to Action SA before you should give it to Rise Mzansi. Nikki and Jonathan hunt together, and that's why they gave a lot of money to the IFP and part in honour of Prince Mangosutu Buthelezi, the late".
He also rejected suggestions that the donation gave Rebecca Oppenheimer undue influence over the party.
According to Mnguni, Rise Mzansi's leadership told him the party has had no more than four meetings with Oppenheimer since its formation, with each meeting lasting less than an hour.
"It's not a question of meeting you and influencing you," he said.
The comments come after renewed scrutiny of Rise Mzansi's finances following the party's recent disclosure of a R30 million loan write-off as a donation.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) is seeking additional information about the transaction to determine whether it complies with the Political Party Funding Act.
Rebecca Oppenheimer's support for Rise Mzansi first became public in 2024, when the party disclosed a R15 million donation in line with the Political Party Funding Act.
IOL previously reported that Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi has defended the party's decision to declare a R30 million loan write-off as a donation, arguing that the arrangement fully complies with South Africa's Political Party Funding Act.
Speaking at a media briefing on Monday in Johannesburg, Zibi said the loan was originally obtained from the organisation “We Are The People” to fund the party's 2024 election campaign.
The debt was later written off after the party struggled to repay it.
He said the party had paid more than R1 million towards servicing the loan but was unable to settle the outstanding balance.
IOL