A video circulating on social media has ignited public outrage after ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula was seen arriving at the party’s National General Council (NGC) in a luxury Mercedes-Benz reportedly worth R3 million, while unpaid ANC employees continued their protest outside the venue. The contrasting scenes have fuelled anger among both staff and ordinary South Africans, who view the moment as symbolic of deepening disconnect between party leadership and its struggling workers.
For months, ANC employees have raised alarms over unpaid and chronically delayed salaries, with some going for long periods without medical aid contributions and pension payments. Their frustration was on full display at the NGC, where they gathered to demand that the ruling party honour its financial obligations and treat its own workforce with dignity. Many described their situation as humiliating, especially during the festive season when families rely on year-end income to make essential purchases.
The arrival of Mbalula’s high-end vehicle during the protest sparked immediate condemnation online, with users calling the moment “tone-deaf,” “insensitive,” and “a slap in the face” to the struggling workers. Some ANC staff members present at the scene said the sight deepened their sense of abandonment, questioning how the party’s leadership can afford luxury vehicles while employees are left unpaid for months.
Observers argue that the incident has further tarnished the ANC’s image at a time when public confidence is already shaken by internal financial mismanagement, factional battles, and declining electoral support. Analysts say the symbolism of a R3 million car passing by unpaid workers is difficult to defend and could worsen tensions within the organisation.
Mbalula has recently acknowledged that he, too, has experienced salary delays, but critics argue that this does little to ease the suffering of lower-earning staff who depend on monthly wages to survive. Union representatives and affected employees have vowed to intensify their demonstrations if the party does not urgently address overdue payments.
As the NGC continues, the incident has become one of the most talked-about moments of the gathering, raising tough questions about leadership priorities, financial accountability, and the ANC’s ability to restore trust within its own ranks.
