Songezo, SCOPA and The True Cost of Rise Mzansi’s Ambitions
As Parliament concludes for the year, Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi, completes his first term as chairperson of South Africa's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA). While this milestone marks a significant step in Zibi’s political trajectory, unresolved questions about the funding of Rise Mzansi and its broader implications cast a long shadow over his leadership.
Before founding Rise Mzansi, Zibi was a founding member and chairman of Rivonia Circle, a self-proclaimed "ground-breaking non-profit producing innovative ideas for social development through research and community collaboration." Zibi served on the organisation’s board until he departed to launch his political career. Leveraging the symbolic legacy of the Rivonia Triallists, Zibi established Rivonia Circle after leaving corporate. Unlike political parties, civil society organisations are not required to disclose their funding sources, enabling Zibi to lay the groundwork for his political campaign while concealing the financial backers behind it.
The question of "Who is funding Rivonia Circle?" has lingered since 2022. Speculation surrounds the funders of this high-profile civil society organisation, founded by a corporate veteran with evident presidential ambitions. In October 2022, director Tessa Dooms, promised to publish a funder list in its annual report. Yet, as 2024 draws to a close, no such report has been made public. This stands in stark contrast to Rivonia Circle’s calls for transparency from both the state and political parties, raising concerns that the organisation has something to hide. This situation highlights a critical loophole in South Africa's electoral funding legislation, which organisations like Rivonia Circle have exploited.
Such secrecy poses a severe threat to democratic principles. Covertly funded organisations can influence political outcomes without accountability. While Rise Mzansi disclosed donations totaling R15 million from Rebecca Oppenheimer in 2023/2024 due to legal requirements, the full extent of its financial backing remains shrouded in secrecy. Although Rivonia Circle did not directly fund Rise Mzansi, it played a crucial role in Zibi’s political rise, laying the foundation for the party’s support base.
Enter "We Are The People."
Formed in February 2024, this entity donated R15 million to Rise Mzansi, as disclosed in the party’s Q4 2023/2024 financial report. According to its website, We Are The People aims to "champion nation-building by mobilising citizens to participate in democratic governance and elections." However, little is known about this organisation. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) declaration lists Londiwe Nompilo, its executive director, as the contact person. Yet, Nompilo’s LinkedIn profile identifies her as the programmes manager at Rivonia Circle, raising questions about her dual affiliations.
How does a newly formed non-profit, in a landscape where NGOs struggle to secure funding, acquire a disposable R15 million to donate to a political party? Why did Rise Mzansi accept R15 million from a newly formed entity that is not registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) or the Department of Social Development (DSD)? While such entities are not legally required to register, why would a political party accept substantial funding from an unregistered organisation—unless it had prior knowledge of its funders and the source of the money? Accepting funds for political gain under ostentatious circumstances not only undermines public trust but also suggests a deliberate attempt to bypass scrutiny, further compounding concerns about the true motives and affiliations behind We Are The People. This begs the question Was We Are The People created solely as a conduit to funnel money to Rise Mzansi for the elections? The links between Londiwe Nompilo, Rivonia Circle, and We Are The People only amplify this question, further undermining the credibility of a party that promised a new era of leadership and accountability.
For Zibi, the SCOPA chairperson tasked with ensuring public accountability, to be associated with such financial ambiguities is profoundly troubling. When political parties accept donations from entities categorised as Voluntary Associations—exempt from disclosing their founders and funders—it raises fundamental concerns about whether these leaders can ethically manage public resources. Transparency in political funding is critical to protecting democratic integrity. While the Political Party Funding Act (PPFA) mandates the disclosure of private funding sources, the involvement of entities like We Are The People undermines both the spirit of the law and public confidence.
Zibi’s appointment as SCOPA chairperson has also faced criticism. Traditionally led by an opposition member, this role is pivotal for ensuring unbiased oversight of government spending. ActionSA has contended that Zibi’s alignment with the Government of National Unity (GNU) compromises SCOPA’s independence. His defence—that Rise Mzansi is not part of the national Cabinet—has done little to address these concerns. SCOPA’s effectiveness relies on its impartiality and independence. However, Zibi’s ties to Rise Mzansi and its opaque funding sources erode public trust in the committee’s ability to ensure transparency and accountability in public expenditure.
Rise Mzansi’s campaign promise of "new leadership" rings hollow. The party’s reliance on shadowy funding mechanisms mirrors the very practices it claims to oppose. By rationalising these actions as necessary to achieve noble ends, Rise Mzansi perpetuates the same political machinations it vowed to reject. Leadership in a democracy is a moral contract, built on trust and sustained by transparency. Without these principles, the promise of "new leadership" becomes nothing more than a façade. For a party that campaigned on transparency and ethical governance, Rise Mzansi’s actions betray public trust. Its use of organisations like Rivonia Circle to obscure financial dealings reflects a troubling continuity with entrenched political norms. If Rivonia Circle and We Are The People have nothing to hide, why not disclose their funding sources as promised? This lack of transparency not only erodes faith in the party but also opens the door to systemic flaws in South Africa’s party funding framework. One that can no longer be ignored.