'Links' to cartels will cost ANC dearly at polls

THE ANC's admission of being infiltrated by criminal cartels, as pronounced by its secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, may be too little too late, especially with months to go before the 2026 municipal elections, according to at least one political analyst.

Mbalula’s made the remarks during a recent media briefing when asked about the actions of North-West businessman Brown Mogotsi, an alleged associate of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has been accused of siphoning money from businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to bankroll the ANC’s activities.

During his testimony at the ongoing Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry, SAPS crime intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo testified that Mogotsi used Matlala's funds to cover expenses for ANC members during this year’s January 8 statement celebrations in the Western Cape.

Mogotsi also allegedly leaked SAPS’s classified documents to Matlala, while receiving payments tied to ANC events linked to Mchunu's supporters. He was also found to have a letter penned by Mchunu ordering the Political Killings Task Team's disbandment on December 31, 2024.

The Madlanga Commission is probing allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption within South Africa's criminal justice system.

Mbalula distanced the ANC from Mogotsi, stating that if he is indeed involved in siphoning money in the party's name, he represents a bad ANC member.

He added that Mogotsi's membership has expired and he is no longer an ANC member.

“There are many such characters who have infiltrated the ANC. You can ask yourself, the person who is so low in the ANC: how does he have control and be accused of bigger things than what we are reading? That tells you a story that the ANC is infiltrated as a party,” he said.

University of Pretoria political scientist Roland Henwood believes Mbalula's utterances were not exactly news, given the party's history of battling internal corruption and external pressures.

“Yes, the statement may impact the performance of the party during 2026 local government elections but what he said is not news to us,” he said.

He criticised Mbalula's statement, saying it shifts the blame to external factors rather than acknowledging the party's internal issues.

"What he is saying is that something from the outside infiltrated us and what he is not saying is that we did it to ourselves," he said.

Henwood believes that the ANC's problems stem from within, specifically from key leaders and members prioritising their self-interest.

He dismissed the idea that the ANC can self-correct, calling it hollow rhetoric without tangible results.

"Show us the results," he demanded, pointing to the disarray in Gauteng's local government, where the ANC is in charge.

Zakes Moabelo, an independent political analyst, said Mbalula's statement about the ANC being infiltrated by criminal cartels is accurate, but comes way too late.

"They woke up too late. Remember there were certain matters that (the party previously) did not allow, including using money to lobby, (but now this has) become a trend,” he said.

According to him, Mbalula's statement is unlikely to restore public trust in the party.

“You can not save a drowning person otherwise you will drown with them. At the moment they (ANC) don’t have strong characters who can resuscitate the party,” he said.

Cape Times