ANC Struggles with Financial Issues as Salary Payments Lag Behind
Natalie Nyathi
The African National Congress (ANC) is facing a serious financial crisis, with ongoing delays in paying staff salaries. This situation raises concerns about the party’s financial health. Recently, Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula confirmed he has not received his salary, joining many other staff members in this issue.
According to reports,the ANC has struggled with financial problems throughout 2025. On November 29, ANC General Manager Patrick Flusk announced another delay for November salary payments. This is the third time this year salaries have been late, following similar issues in February and October. Many employees are now having trouble meeting their basic bills, with bounced debit orders becoming a common problem.
Mbalula acknowledged that management staff, including himself, have not been paid, saying, “The component member of staff that is not paid is management, starting with me, Secretary General. All our staff below have been attended to in terms of salaries.” He added that while staff planned to protest about the unpaid salaries, this has been resolved as they look for a long-term solution.
Mbalula pointed out that the ANC is trying to raise funds to settle the salary issue, which costs roughly R20 million each month. However, fundraising efforts have been impacted by the Political Party Funding Act, which requires parties to declare their donors. Deputy President Paul Mashatile mentioned that many donors no longer want to contribute if their names will be made public. “We’ve lost a lot of funders as the ANC who don’t want to be disclosed for various reasons,” he stated.
The crisis deepened in October 2025 when the Sheriff of the Court seized items from Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters, due to unpaid debts. This included desks, chairs, computers, and other office equipment. The ANC also has an R85 million debt for campaign materials, which caused their bank accounts to be frozen.
These ongoing salary delays and financial problems significantly affect the ANC’s operations and reputation. Concerns about how the party manages its finances continue to grow.
With the 2026 local government elections approaching, the ANC must address these financial challenges and ensure staff salaries are paid on time to maintain their credibility and support.
