“All The Political Party Leaders Go to Stellenbosch To Kiss The Ring” Advocate Sikhakhane Hit Out

Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane has sparked renewed debate about political funding in South Africa, claiming that the country’s major political parties rely on the same wealthy individuals and institutions for financial support, a situation he says compromises political independence and accountability.

Speaking during a public discussion on governance and democracy, Sikhakhane stated: “All these political parties go to the same people to get money. That’s why once in a while they go to Stellenbosch to kiss the ring.” His remarks suggest that despite public differences and ideological divides, political parties often share common financial backers behind the scenes.

Sikhakhane argued that this dependence on a narrow group of funders creates a political system that prioritises the interests of economic elites over the needs of ordinary citizens. According to him, the influence of money in politics helps explain why successive governments have struggled to address structural inequality, unemployment and slow economic transformation.

The reference to Stellenbosch, often associated with established centres of economic power, was used by Sikhakhane as a metaphor for what he described as political subservience to wealthy benefactors. He maintained that political leaders are frequently compelled to seek approval and financial backing from influential business networks in order to sustain party operations and election campaigns.

Political analysts say Sikhakhane’s comments reflect a broader public concern about transparency and accountability in party funding. Although the Political Party Funding Act was introduced to regulate donations and promote disclosure, critics argue that loopholes remain, allowing powerful donors to exert influence without sufficient public scrutiny.

Civil society organisations have repeatedly warned that overreliance on private funding risks policy capture and weakens democratic institutions. They have called for stricter enforcement of funding regulations, greater disclosure of donations and the development of alternative public funding mechanisms to reduce dependence on wealthy donors.

Sikhakhane urged South Africans to look beyond campaign promises and examine who finances political parties, warning that democracy cannot thrive if political power is shaped by financial interests rather than the will of the people. He said meaningful reform would require political courage and sustained public pressure to break the cycle of elite influence.

As debates around political accountability intensify ahead of future elections, Sikhakhane’s remarks have added fresh momentum to calls for deeper reform of South Africa’s political funding system.