The ANC raised millions of rands from activities in the build-up to its birthday bash in Bloemfontein, with more than R6m raised from selling tables at a gala dinner.
The most expensive table, a 10-seater presided over by President Cyril Ramaphosa, sold for R1.2m.
The cheapest seat at the dinner last night was R5,000.
ANC treasurer-general Gwen Ramokgopa told the Sunday Times yesterday that the party exceeded its target of R6m, with 450 attending the dinner at Imvelo Lodge in the Free State.
While Ramokgopa was happy with the money raised, she cautioned it did not mean the ANC would be dishing out tenders to businesses or individuals who helped the party financially.
“Mostly corporates bought tables ... I was firm that buying a table was not transactional. So no expectation of tenders.
“I believe that democracy makes it possible for businesses and individuals to thrive on opportunities. And this democracy must be funded. So to help a political party is to help fund democracy because political parties work to sustain and grow democracy.”
She said one of the ANC’s roles was to ensure that democracy continued to thrive so that businesses could also thrive.
“It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Equally, it is in the interest of business to keep the ANC accountable. Just like it is also the responsibility of citizens.”
Funds raised by the dinner supplemented money the party made during its golf day on Friday.
Players paid R350,000 to tee off with Ramaphosa, and R75,000 to play with national executive committee members, ministers and premiers. It cost R50,000 to play with provincial executive members and R20,000 to play with mayors and regional executive committee members.
Though the total amount from the golf day was still to be verified, insiders said 144 golfers showed up instead of the expected 120.
The party has been struggling to raise funds for the past five years. Sometimes staff have gone unpaid for months and the party did not pay over the unemployment fund or provident fund fees taken from staff.
Staff pay-as-you-earn income tax was also not passed on to the Treasury. The ANC had debtors queuing at Luthuli House, with some taking the party to court.
Party deputy president and former treasurer-general Paul Mashatile blamed the reluctance of donors to give money on the Political Party Funding Act, which requires parties to name their big donors.
Now the party wants the bill to be amended so that only those donations greater than R250,000, or even R500,000, have to be declared. The threshold currently is R100,000.
It wants the ceiling of R15m a year a party can receive from a single donor pushed up to either R50m or R100m, or for the limit to be scrapped altogether.
Under the act money from foreign sources can only be spent on specific activities such as training, and not, for example, on salaries.
The Sunday Times reported in 2021 that the South African Revenue Service (Sars) had garnished the ANC’s funding from the Electoral Commission for part-payment of its ballooning tax bill.
At the time the ANC owed Sars R80m in unpaid PAYE funds and about R140m in provident fund debt.
The ANC is in Bloemfontein to celebrate its 111th birthday today.
Ramaphosa is expected to present the party’s programme for the year — which will influence the contents of the state of the nation address and the budget speech.
Ramaphosa is expected to unveil plans to deal with load-shedding, unemployment and how the government will try to fix ailing state-owned companies.
At last night’s dinner, guests were treated to a spinach and ricotta ravioli as a starter. Beef with potato purée and roasted fennel asparagus, smoked garlic and thyme was the main. Dessert was assorted classic cheesecake.
Entertainment included the Botshabelo string quartet and the King David marimba band.
Ramokgopa said the newly elected top-seven leaders were received positively by the business fraternity.
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