IEC calls for deeper scrutiny of political funding to safeguard democracy

By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The electoral watchdog has called for broader public engagement on political party funding, warning that transparency and accountability in democratic systems cannot be sustained without a deeper understanding of how money shapes politics.

Speaking at the launch of a special edition of the Journal of African Elections in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Mosotho Moepya, chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), said the publication sought to stimulate debate among citizens, researchers and policymakers on the future of political financing in South Africa.

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The special issue, titled Sustaining Multi-Party Democracy through Enhancing Political Funding in South Africa, examines the role of money in politics and the risks posed by weak oversight, opaque donations and inadequate regulation.

“This is more than an academic milestone,” Moepya said. “It reflects the culmination of a rigorous