Africa-Press – South-Africa. The ANC managed to pay its staff members fully in January and is hopeful that it will be able to do so in February, according to newly elected treasurer-general Gwen Ramokgopa.
The party has been battling for months to pay its workers amid money woes.
However, at an ANC Progressive Business Forum fundraising dinner in Cape Town on Wednesday, hosted by Ramokgopa, she told those in attendance that the party’s finances were on the “road to recovery”.
“We have paid our workers fully for January and with continued support, we are sure that we will pay our workers for February and so forth,” Ramokgopa said.
She added that it was because of the “generosity” of companies, members of the forum, and the party’s own members that its financial situation had improved.
“…Even the [generosity of] national executive committee [members] as we attend a meeting, we contribute. There is no free lunch. So, there has been a lot of generosity and we really appreciate that,” Ramokgopa said.
In her new role, Ramokgopa has the task of ensuring that the party’s finances are healthy, woos people to fund the party and, most importantly, ensures that staff at Luthuli House are paid their salaries, and on time.
Since 2021, the ANC has had challenges with staff salaries. Staffers downed tools and protested after not receiving their salaries for months. The workers’ provident fund and medical aid contributions were also not paid. Last year, workers protested at the ANC policy conference at Nasrec.
However, it appears that the party’s fortunes are changing.
During the ANC’s 111th-anniversary celebrations in Bloemfontein, Ramokgopa told News24 at its gala dinner that the ANC had raised millions of rand and that the event was sold out hours before it started.
On Wednesday evening, Ramokgopa said the main focus of the event was not the finances of the ANC. She did, however, encourage those who were at the dinner to fund the party directly and not through the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).
“We would appreciate it if you fund us directly and commit to account for it and use it prudently and efficiently. However, if there are issues, that is also a way of funding democracy. This democracy was not free, and going forward, it is a democracy that must remain priceless for us,” she said.
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