The ANC is once again battling uncomfortable questions after it emerged that secretary-general Fikile Mbalula secretly travelled to Libya on a luxury private jet owned by controversial tobacco magnate Adriano Mazzotti — at an estimated cost of around R1.7 million — but refuses to reveal who paid for the trip or why he went.
The journey, reportedly undertaken two months ago, has triggered fierce scrutiny from governance watchdogs and anti-corruption analysts who argue that senior political leaders must be transparent when accepting high-value benefits that may create a perception of influence or patronage.
Mbalula has given no official explanation for the purpose of the trip, nor any disclosure of whether the ANC or an external benefactor financed the travel. The ANC’s funding structures currently require high-value donations to be declared, while the Executive Members’ Ethics Code demands accountability on gifts and sponsored travel that may conflict with public interest.
Mazzotti, the jet’s owner, has for years been linked to tax disputes, cross-border cigarette smuggling allegations and contentious financial patronage in South African politics. His proximity to high-ranking ANC and EFF figures has long been a flashpoint in debates about political influence and illicit economy networks.
Analysts argue that the secrecy surrounding Mbalula’s trip risks fuelling suspicion at a time when the governing party is battling a legitimacy crisis and declining public trust. The optics of a senior ANC official hitching a ride on a billionaire benefactor’s jet to a volatile North African territory — without explanation — are seen by some as emblematic of the blurred lines between political office and private interests.
Opposition parties are now calling for formal disclosure of the trip’s sponsor and justification. Governance specialists say withholding such information undermines transparency obligations and opens the door for future conflicts of interest — particularly where benefactors operate in heavily regulated or legally grey markets like the tobacco trade.
For now, Mbalula maintains his silence, leaving the public guessing whether the journey was political diplomacy, private business, donor engagement or another undeclared mission.
What remains clear, however, is that the longer the secrecy persists, the louder the questions will become — and the harder it will be for the ANC to maintain its claim of ethical renewal ahead of crucial election cycles.
