South Africas Oppenheimer family has emerged as the largest declared private backer of political parties since the countrys transparency rules took effect in 2021. Filings show more than R200 million directed to six parties by family members including Mary Slack, Nicholas Oppenheimer, Jessica Slack-Jell, Rebecca Oppenheimer, Jonathan Oppenheimer and Victoria Freudenheim.
The beneficiaries span the spectrum and highlight a strategy of hedged support rather than single-party patronage. The Democratic Alliance received about R62.5 million. The Inkatha Freedom Party drew roughly R50 million. ActionSA took in about R45.75 million. RISE Mzansi secured around R30 million. Build One South Africa received about R12 million, and the United Democratic Movement roughly R1 million. The familys spread of donations mirrors a coalition-era market in which influence and policy access are diversified.
The Political Party Funding Act requires disclosure of donations above a thresholdinitially R100,000, later lifted to R200,000and caps annual contributions per donor, a ceiling that has risen to R30 million. Total declared funding across parties since 2021/22 is now well north of R800 million. The figures capture only sums above the threshold and exclude aggregated small cheques, so they remain a partial view of the money landscape nonetheless, the Oppenheimer totals dominate the declared column.