ANC's Big Bucks Make Opposition See Red

Foreign donations to the African National Congress' election kitty have some opposition parties feeling just a little green and others seeing red.

President Nelson Mandela apparently disclosed in Lenasia near Johannesburg on Monday that two Arab leaders had last year donated US20 million (R120 million) to the ANC's election coffers.

The ANC on Tuesday disputed this and said Mandela was speaking about donations to the party in general and not its election campaign.

Mandela was quoted as telling a public meeting in Lenasia, that one of the donors was Saudi Arabia's King Fahd, who had donated US10 million (R60 million) and the other Sheikh Zaid Bin Sultan al-Nahayan of the United Arab Emirates, who gave a similar amount.

Fahd had also donated US50 million to the ANC in 1990.

Mandela said Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad had also donated US50 million, but did not specify when.

Other ANC benefactors, according to media reports, include Nigeria and Morocco.

The Democratic Party, which has earmarked about R20 million for its election campaign, reacted angrily on Tuesday.

DP spokesman Douglas Gibson said it was incredible that amounts of this magnitude were being spent on the South African election.

"Breathtaking sums are being thrown at the voters when what South Africa really needs is spending limits like those which exist in almost all democratic countries.

"This gross and revolting waste of money should be outlawed and these funds should be used for the upliftment of communities through donor and social programmes." The DP was concerned that the ANC's obvious willingness to accept substantial contributions from these countries would influence government policy and foreign relations.

"Considering the ANC's propensity for cronyism, the connection with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates suggests that South Africa's foreign policy may end up being 'bought'," Gibson said.

The Federal Alliance, whose leader, former fertiliser tycoon and rugby boss, Louis Luyt, admitted earlier this year that he was bankrolling the party, also complained on Tuesday.

Mandela had, by his own admission, used official state visits for ANC fund-raising, FA spokesman Jan Bosman said.

"This is totally unacceptable. How can the president of South Africa pretend to represent South Africa and all its people on an official state visit to raise funds for South Africa and then simultaneously place undue pressure on foreign governments and business people for funds towards the ANC?" Mandela should decide in which capacity he wanted to visit foreign countries.

"Maybe President Mandela should tell South Africa exactly how much foreign funding he raised for the upliftment of the poor, housing and better policing.

Bosman also suggested the donations would have a bearing on South Africa's foreign policy.

The New National Party's Dr Boy Geldenhuys called on Mandela to state unequivocally that the money was not raised during official state visits.

"IF one party is allowed to raise funds at the taxpayers' expense it makes a mockery of 'free' and 'fair elections'." The NNP would not allow the ANC government to sell South Africa out to the highest bidder.

ANC spokesman Thabo Masebe said: "The donations that Madiba was talking about were not for the ANC election campaign, but were donated over the years." Mandela had not specified when these donations were made, some of which had been given as far back as 1990.

"He's talking about donations he received as president of the ANC." Masebe would not confirm or deny whether the two Arab leaders had donated US20 million to the ANC's election kitty.

Meanwhile, presidential aide Parks Mankahlana said Mandela had made a general indication of the extent of relations between South African and Muslim countries.

The accusation that Mandela had abused public office to raise funds for the ANC was without foundation.

Some of his requests for help been made while he was deputy president and then president of the ANC, before he was even president of the country, Mankahlana said.

If Mandela had made any approach while head of state, this would never have detracted from or replaced the president's government responsibilities or duties.

"Never during the president's visits abroad were government resources used to raise funds for the ANC," Mankahlana said.

However, nothing prohibited him as an individual or in his capacity as a leading member of the ANC, to do anything in the interest of the party.

Mankahlana criticised opposition parties for "cheap political point scoring".

The international work that the president had done was in the country's national interest and his achievements as a mediator had brought only glory for the country.

"Instead of being critical, they (the opposition) should be praising President Mandela for being so forthright about what he has been doing.

"That level of transparency has never been achieved before in the country," Mankahlana said.