Prince Mashele, a political analyst, has launched a stinging attack on the African National Congress, accusing its ministers of being deeply rooted in corruption and likening them to hardened criminals.
Mashele made a statement about the state of governance in South Africa during a discussion that took place recently. According to Mashele, the leadership of the ruling party had lost credibility and could no longer be differentiated from criminal elements.
Mashele stated, “ANC ministers have become so corrupt that there is no longer a difference between them and hardened criminals.” South Africa is still struggling to deal with a number of corruption scandals, misuse of public resources, and the disastrous effects of state capture, all of which were the context in which he made his comments.
The corruption that existed within the African National Congress (ANC) was not limited to a small number of individuals; rather, it had become systemic, which eroded the public’s trust in government institutions, according to Mashele. He emphasised that the moral degradation exhibited by those at high levels of leadership was a direct contributing factor to the socioeconomic crises that average individuals were experiencing.
WATCH: Prince Mashele says ANC Ministers have become so corrupt to the extent that there is no longer a difference between them and hardcore criminals. pic.twitter.com/4CZuZFUKiL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) September 8, 2025
The ANC has been the subject of intense criticism due to claims of corruption. Even after President Cyril Ramaphosa took office with the promise of ushering in a “new dawn,” there are still uncertainties as to whether the party that holds the majority is capable of eliminating corruption.
Mashele’s statements are indicative of the increasing frustration that political analysts and activists in civil society are experiencing. These individuals are of the opinion that the African National Congress (ANC) has not been able to reform itself. Parties in opposition, like the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters, have made accusations repeatedly that the party in power is protecting corrupt officials, while the public suffers the consequences of failures in service delivery.
Mashele’s sharp criticism highlights the deteriorating confidence in the leadership of the African National Congress as the country approaches the 2026 local government elections. As a result of ongoing challenges with power outages, unemployment, and increasing costs of living, the comparison between politicians and criminals may not seem all that far-fetched to many South Africans, as these issues bring the inadequacies of the government into sharp relief.
