As the Madlanga commission and a parliamentary ad hoc committee probe shocking claims of criminal capture within the police service, a central, unsettling question emerges: is the pursuit of money to fund internal ANC leadership campaigns the root of the corruption?
The inquiries have heard testimony suggesting that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu came under the influence of an alleged criminal syndicate after seeking financial backing for a presidential bid from tenderpreneur Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala. While Mchunu and his defenders deny any direct link, the allegations point to a broader, more systemic issue within the ANC: winning a top party position requires a war chest that rivals a national election campaign.
The author argues that the lesson from Cyril Ramaphosa’s CR17 campaign-which reportedly raised and spent close to a billion rand—is that “an ANC conference cannot be won without loads of money.” This creates a fundamental problem for aspirant leaders without pre-existing wealth or corporate networks. Where do they find the millions required to lobby for support?
The article posits that this financial pressure creates a fertile ground for corruption. When legitimate fundraising falls short, candidates may be forced to turn to “dubious” sources, blurring the lines between political ambition and criminal influence. The famous Struggle song, “Amandla ase masebeni” (the power is with the branches), rings hollow in this context, as the real power does not lie with the unemployed party grassroots, but with those who control the purse strings.
In the high-stakes race for the ANC presidency, the ultimate lesson may be that power lies not with the branches, but with those who can finance its purchase.
