ANC staff to picket over non-payment of salaries – is the party broke?

More than a month after the African National Congress (ANC) sent a memo to staff, informing them of its cash woes, which would affect their salaries, they have now had enough and are set to down tools.

The governing party has so far failed to pay the staff stationed not only at its headquarters in Johannesburg, but offices across the country – and will stage a protest on Tuesday, 15 June 2021.

“After repeated challenges of late salary payments, ANC staff will picket on June 15 at Luthuli House, and all provincial and regional ANC offices in protest,” said ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe.

“Although staff were informed that officials are attending to the ANC cash flow challenges, the feeling of grievance about their conditions of employment has reached critical point. Elected officials, at all levels will be organised to receive the staff memorandum”

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe.

ANC’s money woes

In April, the ANC’s general manager Febe Potgieter-Gqubule had told staff they were experiencing some cash flow problems, which would likely continue for the next few months.

However, if the recent media reports are anything to go, the party’s money problems are worse than the party has been letting on and will take a little more than a quick fix to address. At one of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings, the governing party had apparently looked at the possibility of trimming down on its staff.

As if that isn’t enough, it has also been reported that the ruling party has failed to pay staff members’ provident funds for more than two years. Other benefits, including medical aid, petrol and data claims have also not been paid.

The ANC has been relying heavily on the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for salaries and servicing its debt.