Workers at the ANC’s headquarters, Luthuli House, have called for the party’s national policy conference scheduled for next week to be postponed over the nonpayment of staff salaries for June.
At two separate meetings of staff and management, the ANC’s full-time employees questioned why the party had money for a conference but not for salaries.
The conference, which is scheduled to take place at Nasrec in Gauteng on July 29, is expected to be attended by thousands of delegates.
The governing party has been struggling to pay staff salaries on time since 2019.
The party is in financial ruin, with mounting debts to SA Revenue Service (Sars) and nonpayment of benefits to their provident and pension funds, stemming from former president Jacob Zuma’s term at the helm of the ANC.
Several ANC personnel confirmed to Business Day that salaries have been paid up to end-May, but their wages for work done in June are outstanding.
Keith Khoza, head of the ANC’s treasurer-general’s office, said the conference will not be delayed.
“We are doing our best to raise the money for salaries,” he said.
Political analysts agree that a postponement of the conference would be a disaster in terms of the party’s succession debate.
“It is a precursor for a bigger war because the most important thing for most factions is to use the policy conference to assess each others strengths,” said Ntsikelelo Breakfast, senior lecturer at Nelson Mandela University.
Ralph Mathekga said the conference “becomes a referendum on leadership and policy. The only difference is that the ANC members have become wiser in pursuing factionalism. People see that policy discussions are used to favour individuals.”
Both agree that at the policy gathering debate over the step-aside rule, which forces leaders facing serious criminal charges to relinquish any participation in the ANC, would be a litmus test of the balance of power in the party.
“The step-aside principle will be at the heart of it. The stakes could not be higher. The RET faction believe if they can get step aside suspended, they can contest [against] President [Cyril] Ramaphosa for the ANC presidency in December,” Breakfast said.
“It is all about positions in the top six and the ANC executive come the ANC’s elective conference in December. Those who want positions must show they have support in order for them to be accommodated,” Mathekga added.
While former health minister Zweli Mkhize, tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu and suspended party secretary-general Ace Magashule have all signalled a willingness to contest against Ramaphosa for the ANC presidency in December, it is still unclear if they will have the required support for such a challenge.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.