Johnathan Paoli
Just a year after taking over the finances at ANC headquarters, Treasurer-General Gwen Ramokgopa says the ruling party has turned around its finances.
Speaking to Inside Politics on the sideline of the January 8 Statement on Saturday in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, Ramokgopa said the party’s finances are now in order, and she has placed accountability measures to ensure the party keeps its obligations to run a transparent and sustainable organisation.
“We have most definitely improved the financial management. I do not spend sleepless nights about the ANC financial challenges anymore primarily because of the ANC NEC collective.
“It has been a year dedicated specifically to how we can turn around party finances. The benevolence from our membership in business, private sector, and professionals who contribute on a monthly basis has enabled the party to stabilise its finances in just under a year,” she said.
In the build-up to the party’s 112th birthday celebration on Saturday, the ANC embarked on fundraising initiatives including the presidential golf day at the Mbombela Golf Club in Mpumalanga on Thursday, followed by the gala dinner on Friday evening.
At Friday’s gala dinner participants forked out at least R50,000 for a seat at the table, and one of the 60 tables at the dinner cost R500,000 depending on the position of the tables in relation to where President Cyril Ramaphosa was sitting.
It also cost R500,000 to play golf with Ramaphosa, with the more affordable options being offered to those who wished to play with other ANC leaders.
With packages starting from R20,000, it reportedly cost about R250,000 for a golf session with other ANC leaders such as Ramokgopa, R150,000 to tee off with any member of the NEC, and R100,000 to play with members of the PEC.
Ramokgopa said “we are sold out. It’s been an exciting year giving us reasons to celebrate the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy.”
Ramokgopa who is a medical doctor by profession and used to be Gauteng Health MEC before becoming Tshwane’s Executive Mayor, replaced Paul Mashatile as Treasurer-General following the party’s elective conference in December 2022.
This year, Ramaphosa used the gala dinner to launch a crowd fund initiative where individuals can donate money to assist the party to advance its mission of renewal.
During his speech at the fundraising gala dinner, Ramaphosa said: “This crowd fund initiative will allow the general public to donate to the ANC as part of ensuring the party works towards financial sustainability and self-sufficiency”.
The ANC has over the years had severe financial troubles as it struggled to meet its financial obligations to staff members and creditors. Previously, the party’s website crashed when it failed to pay a service provider, and its archive is now hosted under a different domain name.
In 2021 and 2022, under the leadership of then TG Paul Mashatile, staff held regular protests at headquarters, Luthuli House because of unpaid salaries, UIF and pension contributions.
In December last year, the ANC national spokesperson, Hlengiwe Motsiri-Bhengu said the party’s finances remained stable for the year and as a result it met its financial obligations and paid all its suppliers who rendered services for various events – on time.
INSIDE POLITICS
