RISE Mzansi national leader Makashule Gana says that despite the “sorry state of the economy”, political party funding has “undeservedly” been allocated R200-million, with the African National Congress (ANC) and Democratic Alliance (DA) getting the lion's share.

National Treasury has set aside nearly R3-billion for South Africans to vote in the general elections on May 29.

Tabling his Budget 2024 in the Cape Town City Hall on Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa was allocated R2.3-billion, while police and defence were allocated R350-million to support the elections.

A further R200-million is allocated for political party funding.

Gana said it was absurd that South Africans were being forced to fund political parties that had “done little with their governance mandate”.

He stressed that the R200-million could have funded more teachers, could have helped end poverty and could have helped single mothers.

Gana said it was clear that the political establishment did not stand with the people, and sought only to “advance their own interests at the expense of the people”.

“The people of South Africa are being forced to pay for 15 wasted years marked by corruption, economic decline, and increased joblessness under the poor leadership of Presidents Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa,” he highlighted.

He pointed out that while parties such as RISE Mzansi spend time and resources mobilising donations from South Africans, the political establishment has simply handed itself a cheque.

He didn’t spare the DA in his comments.

“The DA, which prides itself as being better than the other political parties have confirmed that they are no different to the ANC. They have in fact formed a coalition around the people's money,” said Gana.

RISE Mzansi is issuing a call to South Africans who believe in building a credible political to donate to the party.