Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts about this donor come from
Every fact on the donor page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What did the parties declare?
The IEC funding reports
This donor gave the IFP 1 donation worth R186 726, as declared to the IEC. It was made between July and September 2025.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 28 November 2025.
Where to look: The table of donations the parties declared (section 9(1)) and the late declarations table, under the party that declared it
What has been reported?
Official records and news
WFD says it is "the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy and open societies around the world". It says the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the foreign ministry, sponsors it.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The page has no date.
Where to look: Intro: "WFD is the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy and open societies around the world."; footer: "an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office"; "The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides most of our funding."
WFD says a board of MPs from the main UK parties and independent experts runs it. It says the FCDO gives most of its money.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The page has no date.
Where to look: Intro: "WFD is the UK public body dedicated to strengthening democracy and open societies around the world."; footer: "an executive Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office"; "The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office provides most of our funding."
WFD's 2025-26 accounts say the FCDO gave it £8.5 million in core funding that year. They say the FCDO paid it another £5.23 million for other projects. So its money comes from the UK government.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Published 13 July 2026.
Where to look: Note 17, Related party transactions: "During the year, WFD received core grant-in-aid funding of £8.5 million from the FCDO (2024/25: £8.5 million)."; Finance review, Breakdown of income sources: "FCDO (non-Grant-in-Aid): £5.23 million (2024-25: £3.77 million)"; section "The Conservative Party WFD programme": "continued to develop the party’s relationship with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in South Africa, delivering party-to-party training focused on the specifics of regional elections."; Note 3, Direct expenditure on WFD projects: "Conservative Party 430,691 495,913"
WFD says it answers to the UK Parliament and is checked by the UK National Audit Office.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The page has no date.
Where to look: Legal status and accountability: "WFD’s sponsoring department is the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). ... We are formally accountable to parliament. We are audited by the National Audit Office."
WFD's 2025-26 accounts say the UK Conservative Party's WFD programme gave the IFP "party-to-party training focused on the specifics of regional elections". WFD spent £430,691 on that programme across several countries.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Published 13 July 2026.
Where to look: Note 17, Related party transactions: "During the year, WFD received core grant-in-aid funding of £8.5 million from the FCDO (2024/25: £8.5 million)."; Finance review, Breakdown of income sources: "FCDO (non-Grant-in-Aid): £5.23 million (2024-25: £3.77 million)"; section "The Conservative Party WFD programme": "continued to develop the party’s relationship with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in South Africa, delivering party-to-party training focused on the specifics of regional elections."; Note 3, Direct expenditure on WFD projects: "Conservative Party 430,691 495,913"
WFD's 2024-25 report says that after its training, the IFP set up a broadcasting suite and named a public-speaking trainer.
Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Published 10 July 2025.
Where to look: Conservative programme, pages 26-27: "the IFP have now set up both a broadcasting suite and appointed a training lead for public speaking (who attended our course in late 2024)"; WFD's Multi-Party Office, page 27: "The MPO3 ran the Women Leadership Programme Alumni Summit in partnership with the African Liberal Network."
The same report says WFD ran a women's leadership summit "in partnership with the African Liberal Network".
Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Published 10 July 2025.
Where to look: Conservative programme, pages 26-27: "the IFP have now set up both a broadcasting suite and appointed a training lead for public speaking (who attended our course in late 2024)"; WFD's Multi-Party Office, page 27: "The MPO3 ran the Women Leadership Programme Alumni Summit in partnership with the African Liberal Network."
The Africa Liberal Network lists the DA as its member party in South Africa.
Africa Liberal Network. The page has no date.
Where to look: Member table, South Africa row: "South Africa Democratic Alliance (DA)"
The IEC said the IFP declared R186 726 from WFD in July to September 2025. It said the gift paid for a workshop on volunteers and branch structures.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). The page has no date.
Where to look: IFP section: "Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which contributed R186,726.00 toward a volunteer engagement and branch structure development workshop"; "requires further consideration as it appears that it may be a foreign, state-related entity"
The IEC said this gift needed a closer look because WFD "may be a foreign, state-related entity". It said the IFP could put its side.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). The page has no date.
Where to look: IFP section: "Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which contributed R186,726.00 toward a volunteer engagement and branch structure development workshop"; "requires further consideration as it appears that it may be a foreign, state-related entity"
South Africa's party funding law bans gifts from foreign governments and their agencies. So the IEC was checking whether WFD counts as one.
South African Government. Published 23 January 2019.
Where to look: Section 8(1)(a) and (b), page 10: a party may not accept a donation from a foreign government or foreign government agency; a foreign entity may give only for training or skills development or policy development
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