ANC Court Papers Reveal Unlawful Ezulweni Debt Deal, Says ActionSA

ActionSA has accused the African National Congress (ANC) of violating the Political Party Funding Act following revelations from court papers that expose the party’s confidential debt settlement with Ezulweni Investments.

According to ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont, the documents—filed by the ANC in its ongoing case against Ezulweni—confirm that the governing party’s R150 million debt was unlawfully settled through an inflated R190 million order for 2024 election materials. Independent valuations reportedly placed the goods’ actual worth at R125 million, meaning the transaction effectively included an R85 million donation-in-kind, well above the R15 million annual limit allowed by law.

Beaumont said this directly contradicts public assurances from both the ANC and the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) that the deal complied with regulations. He criticised the IEC for failing to investigate the matter when ActionSA first raised concerns in 2023, accusing the body of “washing its hands” of its oversight responsibilities.

ActionSA has announced plans to submit the full agreement to the IEC within 30 days and will temporarily pause its legal action to allow the commission time to review the evidence. Beaumont added that the party would push for a formal declaration that the ANC’s settlement constitutes an unlawful breach of the Political Party Funding Act.

He also warned that the Act is being undermined by selective enforcement, citing discrepancies in declared donations by other political parties, including the MK Party, during the 2024 elections.

“The Political Party Funding Act has become laughable in the face of open violations,” Beaumont said. “Until the IEC enforces the law, accountability in political funding will remain a myth.”