The African National Congress (ANC) is embroiled in yet another scandal as its internal leadership selection process faces allegations of bribery, patronage networks, and backroom deals. Critics warn that financial influence, not vision or capability, is increasingly deciding who rises to power in South Africa’s ruling party.
Insiders reveal a toxic culture where votes are allegedly bought and sold. “Leadership isn’t about competence anymore—it’s about who can bankroll the most delegates,” a senior ANC source told reporters anonymously. Branch representatives are reportedly wooed with cash-filled envelopes, lavish trips, and campaign-funded perks, turning internal elections into a marketplace of political favors.
Political analyst Dr. Palesa Mothapo describes the rot as systemic. “The ANC’s internal democracy is a façade. Positions go to the highest bidder, not the most qualified leader,” she said. While the party has acknowledged past vote-buying scandals and pledged reforms—including stricter vetting and oversight—enforcement remains weak.
With a pivotal national conference looming in 2026, fears are mounting that the ANC will crown another compromised leader, further eroding public trust. Analysts caution that without urgent, transparent reforms, the party risks cementing a reputation for corruption over governance—and hemorrhaging the moral legitimacy it once commanded as South Africa’s liberation movement.
The stakes are existential: Will the ANC clean house, or will its next era be defined by the very graft it once vowed to dismantle?
