Marcus Moloko
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has distanced the party from rogue elements within its ranks, declaring that corrupt members “stand alone.”
Speaking after the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) meeting, Mbalula told reporters that the ANC was in the middle of a renewal process and would not shield those implicated in wrongdoing.
“No one in the ANC has a mandate to be corrupt. Any member caught in corruption stands alone,” he said.
However, the party’s recent attempt to disassociate itself from businessman Brown Mogotsi has raised questions about internal consistency, timing, and the ANC’s broader credibility crisis.
Indeed, Mbalula conceded that Mogotsi had once been an ANC member but insisted that his membership had since expired.
“Let me explain, Brown Mogotsi,” Mbalula said.
“Mogotsi was a member of the ANC. He did not occupy any significant role in the ANC, except being a member. His membership expired.”
His remarks followed explosive testimony before the Madlanga Judicial Commission, where WhatsApp messages allegedly showed Mogotsi using his proximity to ANC structures to facilitate payments from criminal networks and influence internal operations.
Evidence presented at the inquiry suggested attempts to infiltrate the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and disband the SAPS Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Mbalula conceded that such revelations exposed deeper problems within the ANC.
“If it was not because of this process, we would not have known about this character. Let us be honest; there are many such characters who have infiltrated the ANC. The ANC is infiltrated,” said Mbalula.
One has to ask: if Mogotsi’s membership had indeed lapsed before his alleged misconduct became public, why did senior leaders refer to him as a member subject to disciplinary measures?
And if he was no longer affiliated, what mechanisms would allow him to continue funding ANC activities and leveraging the party’s networks for influence?
The ANC’s constitution provides some clarity.
Membership is open to all South Africans over the age of 18 who accept the party’s principles and abide by its rules.
However, Rule 4.11 empowers the Secretary-General to reject membership applications obtained fraudulently.
Rule 25.17.4 prohibits conduct that brings the party into disrepute, while Rule 5.2.7 obliges members to act honestly and maintain discipline.
These provisions suggest the ANC has clear authority to revoke or deny membership in cases of misconduct.
Yet, the timing of the party’s distancing statement, issued only after damaging testimony surfaced, suggests an element of reputational containment rather than proactive governance.
Allegations that Mogotsi used funds from businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to cover ANC expenses in the Western Cape further blur the lines between expired membership and ongoing operational influence.
If true, these claims also expose weaknesses in the ANC’s vetting and oversight of financial contributions.
Mbalula’s insistence that the ANC has been infiltrated by “comrade tsotsis” underscores the party’s struggle to balance internal renewal with accountability.
“We know that our organisation has been infiltrated by criminals,” he said, adding that the Madlanga Commission offered an opportunity to “exorcise” such elements from the ANC’s ranks.
“If it was not because of this process, we would not have known about this character,” Mbalula admitted, referring to the commission’s inquiry.
“Let us be honest. There are many such characters who have infiltrated the ANC … The ANC is infiltrated.”
While Mbalula’s openness may reflect an honest reckoning, it also underscores how deeply the party’s renewal project is entangled with the legacy of corruption and patronage.
The ANC’s handling of the Mogotsi saga ultimately exposes a deeper structural challenge, how to enforce constitutional discipline consistently while navigating the pressures of public scrutiny and factional loyalty.
As the Madlanga Commission continues, the party faces a critical test.
Can it uphold its stated commitment to integrity and renewal, or will it remain reactive, managing scandals only after exposure?
How the ANC resolves this tension, between moral reform and political self-preservation, will determine whether its rhetoric of renewal translates into genuine accountability or remains a defensive narrative in the face of mounting public distrust.
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