South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance has accused former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, whose spectacular electoral debut has upended the country’s politics, of receiving campaign finance from Moscow.

John Steenhuisen, the DA leader, told the Financial Times in an interview that Zuma’s party, founded six month ago, had been extremely well funded from the first voter registration drive in January when it was only weeks old.

“I’m certain that money has flown into their accounts from Russia,” said Steenhuisen, adding that the MK party had gazebos, branded clothing and other costly electoral supplies from the first day of its campaign. “This is not some mom and pop organisation. I definitely think there is Russian money,” he said, though he conceded there was no proof.