Moshal Gives R118 Million to Parties
Gambling executive Martin Moshal contributed almost R118 million to South African political parties over the last five years, according to Independent Electoral Commission data.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Gambling
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Martin Moshal contributed almost R118 million to South African political parties in the last five years, with the Democratic Alliance receiving R48 million and ActionSA R47 million. The data was obtained by The Outlier from the Independent Electoral Commission.
Why it matters
The scale of the donations links a major online gambling figure to several parties ahead of the 2026 municipal elections. National Treasury is expected to propose a new tax on online gambling earnings in the 2027 Budget.
Records from the Independent Electoral Commission show Moshal gave R5 million each to the DA and ActionSA in the run-up to the 2026 municipal elections. The total of almost R118 million covers only donations reported in the last five years, and the wider scale of his political giving remains unclear.
The players
Martin Moshal
Moshal is a South African businessman born in Durban who helped start the gambling software company Microgaming in 1994 and has become a significant donor to political parties.
Democratic Alliance
The Democratic Alliance is a South African opposition party that received R48 million from Moshal over the last five years.
ActionSA
ActionSA is a South African political party that received R47 million from Moshal over the last five years.
National Treasury
National Treasury is the South African government department responsible for the national budget and tax policy, and is expected to propose a tax on online gambling in the 2027 Budget.
The details
Moshal, who helped start the software company Microgaming in 1994, has funded several parties across the political spectrum. The donations were reported by The Outlier after it obtained the records from the Independent Electoral Commission, and the source does not say what the parties did with the money.
Timeline
Last five years: Moshal's political contributions totalling almost R118 million.
Run-up to the 2026 municipal elections: R5 million each to the DA and ActionSA.
1994: Moshal helps start Microgaming.
2027 Budget: National Treasury expected to propose a 20% tax on online gambling earnings.
Gambling Industry Context
The anticipated 20% tax on online gambling earnings builds on earlier calls by BOSA for a 6% national gaming tax, signalling a higher proposed rate than industry advocates had previously floated. Political donations from gambling figures now sit alongside that tax debate in South African public discussion.
If the proposed 20% tax on online gambling earnings is adopted, players and operators of online betting services in South Africa would face a higher tax burden on their earnings. The effect on individual bettors' costs has not been detailed in the reporting.
The takeaway
Political funding and gambling taxation are increasingly linked in South African policy debate, and readers should watch the 2027 Budget for the proposed online gambling tax. The donation records are publicly available through the Independent Electoral Commission.
What happens next
National Treasury is expected to propose the 20% online gambling tax in the 2027 Budget.
Further reading
Explore more on Gambling in South Africa.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ghanamma.
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