DA's James reveals campaign finances

James gave his own income as at April 29 this year as R104 354.04. He gave the same figure for his campaign finances.

DA members will elect new leaders - including a replacement for Helen Zille, who announced on April 12 that she would not stand for re-election - at its federal congress which starts in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

"I have stated publicly that, in interest of transparency, I will make a full public disclosure about how my campaign to be elected as federal leader of the Democratic Alliance is financed,” he said.

“I expect the total cost of my campaign will be approximately R150 000 and have therefore put an additional R50 000 of my own savings into my campaign.

"It has not been necessary for me to use any donor income at this stage of my campaign."

If he needed donors he would make public their names and how much they had given him, and declare this to the party and Parliament's register of members’ interests, James said.

"I have noted Athol Trollip and Mmusi Maimane have refused to publicly disclose their donors, and I, therefore, challenge them, in the interests of transparency, to make public the name[s] of each donor and the amount[s] donated, whether the donation was in cash or kind, and make public a breakdown of their campaign expenses before election day on May 10 2015 at the DA’s federal congress."

In a statement on Thursday, he criticised Maimane for not revealing his donors.

Maimane, who is the party's parliamentary leader, said at the time he had complied with all internal protocols regarding donors.

"He [James] is depending on me to give him media coverage," he said.

"Eighty-four percent of the caucus is fully supportive of my campaign. We are focused on a positive campaign. We will be pulling out the numbers [on Sunday] and we will be victorious."

Trollip, who is the party's leader in the Eastern Cape, told News24 that James was being disingenuous.

"He is panicking and wants to change the rules of the game in injury time."

He said he had complied with the party's rules and declared his finances to the party's federal executive chairperson James Selfe.

"I won't be entertaining his political stunt. I will comply with the rules of the game."

Author: News24

NewsWire ID: 2883

File photo: Gallo images