For some ANC employees, it appears to be the start of a not-so-merry Christmas. And the timing couldn’t be worse, as the top brass gathers at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg for its fifth annual National General Council (NGC). But it turns out this is not an isolated occurrence …
According to IOL, some ANC employees have gone months without pay. And desperation is beginning to work its way through party ranks. Moreover, cash-flow issues are starting to impact some of the party’s highest office-bearers. Including secretary general Fikile Mbalula, who says he, too, is awaiting his salary.
ANC EMPLOYEES NOT PAID FOR MONTHS
However, reports of ANC employees picketing at the NGC contradicts the secretary general’s account of proceedings. Earlier this week, he said that the party’s salary backlog was being resolved and no staff members would resort to strike action. Clearly, he underestimated them.
And yet, ANC Youth League president Collen Malatji is demanding accountability from top leadership. “We’re going to hold everyone accountable. ANC employees are not being paid. They’ve got families to take care of and must prepare for December. But now their children are going hungry,” exclaimed Malatji.
ANC HAS FAILED ITS EMPLOYEES FOR YEARS
According to The South African, the ANC’s monthly salary contribution is roughly R24 million. Like any other party, it must rely on political donations to survive and pay its expenses. However, since the ANC lost majority rule in the 2024 election, these endowments have been drying up.
Several ANC employees are still owed salaries from months earlier, even though partial November payments have been made, reports IOL. But with just over a week and a half till the end of the working year, ANC employees fear the same fate awaits their December salaries.
ANC EMPLOYEES GOING HUNGRY
One of the ANC employees protesting in Boksburg, Nombuso Mthembu, says the salary crisis is unbearable. “These issues have been ongoing for months. We were picketing at the 2022 policy conference for the same reasons. Salary delays, provident fund arrears, medical aid suspensions. And nothing has changed,” says Mthemba.
“Our provident funds are deducted every month, yet the payments are still outstanding. Medical aid is also deducted, but when you get to the doctor, you’re told your coverage has been suspended. What must we do now?” Mthemba says.
But what do you think? Do you feel for ANC employees when you hear they might not be able to feed their children? And what can the ANC do to rectify their cashflow problems? Be sure to let us know in the comments section below …
