.• Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president Godrich Gardee says his party spends about R1-billion per election cycle, warning that constant voting weakens democracy and encourages corruption.
• Gardee raised concerns during the party’s National People’s Assembly, where delegates were briefed by election and statistics bodies ahead of local government elections.
The Economic Freedom Fighters say South Africa’s democracy has become too expensive to sustain.
The party’s deputy president, Godrich Gardee, said the high cost of frequent elections places a heavy burden on political parties.
He was speaking at the Economic Freedom Fighters National People’s Assembly held at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.
Gardee said the repeated election cycle undermines the spirit of democracy and democratic processes.
He told delegates that the party spends roughly R1-billion during every election cycle.
Gardee said this level of spending is not sustainable for political organisations.
He used the 2024 national elections as an example.
“2024, for example, the Economic Freedom Fighters spent a billion rands. In the 2024 elections alone. Two and a half later, you are taking us to other elections,” said Gardee.
He said after the upcoming local government elections, the country will again head to the polls a few years later.
He said this means political parties must again find huge amounts of money.
“Once we have finished the local government elections in November 2026, in 2029 we are going to another election. Another billion rand,” he said.
Gardee questioned whether the current election cycle truly serves democracy.
He asked whether it was reasonable to expect parties to raise such large sums so often.
“What kind of democracy are you taking us through? Are you able to tell the government this is just impossible?” he asked.
Gardee said the pressure to fund elections every few years creates space for wrongdoing.
He warned that constant fundraising needs push politicians towards corrupt behaviour.
“That’s why political parties and politicians will be so corrupt to finance this democracy every two and a half years,” he said.
During the assembly, delegates received briefings from the Electoral Commission of South Africa, Statistics South Africa and the Municipal Demarcation Board.
These presentations came as the party prepares for the upcoming local government elections.
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