ANC raises millions from events around birthday celebrations

The ANC made more than R50m from events around its annual January 8 birthday celebration, with the party's golf day and gala dinner both oversubscribed.

ANC insiders involved in the process said the golf day alone raked in more than R20m from the business elite itching to tee off with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Further, the ANC is said to have made more than R30m when it hosted business leaders at its gala dinner in the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The Sunday Times understands it cost R5m to rub shoulders with Ramaphosa at his table, where he was seated with party treasurer-general Gwen Ramokgopa. Despite the hefty price tag, the dinner was oversubscribed.

Both events were part of the party’s progressive business forum (PBF) calendar, overseen by Ramokgopa. Insiders said the ANC had planned for 50 tables at the dinner, but extended this to 57 to accommodate late applicants hoping to rub shoulders with the president.

“At the 11th hour, we had to accommodate close to 10 [more] tables because people were still trying to get a seat. The demand was enormous. People were still trying to get a table hours before the programme was scheduled to begin. It pitted us against the president’s security,” the insider said.

At the 11th hour, we had to accommodate close to 10 [more] tables because people were still trying to get a seat. The demand was enormous. People were still trying to get a table hours before the programme was scheduled to begin.

—  ANC insider

The platinum package included complimentary admission to a colloquium attended by minister of electricity and energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, water and sanitation minister Pemmy Majodina, minerals and petroleum resources minister Gwede Mantashe and minister of trade, industry and competition Parks Tau. The event included a photo opportunity.

It also allowed a business branding on its awards invite mailer, a speaker acknowledgment, as well as a trophy handover at the dinner. To share a table with deputy president Paul Mashatile, business forum members did not shy away from paying R3m, while a seat at the other tables cost R150,000.

The gold package included on-screen branding, complimentary admission to the colloquium, access to a wine-tasting session, PR across various ANC platforms, a speaker acknowledgment at the dinner and a photo opportunity with ministers. The silver package excluded admission to the colloquium.

PBF subscribers paid R28,750 for a seat, limited to eight people a table; access to the wine-tasting session; access to view the golf; a suite at the PBF executive at Mandela Park; and a seat at the colloquium.

Non-PBF members paid R57,000 for a seat at a table with all the complimentary benefits . During the presidential golf day on January 9, business leaders who had paid to tee off with Ramaphosa were afforded three seats at the prize-giving dinner as well as the gala dinner, and access to the Mandela Park stadium suite.

A round of golf with the Western Cape provincial executive committee cost R115,000, while a normal four-ball cost R23,000. Watering hole and branding on the sixth tee cost R57,500, while other holes cost R34,500. It cost R69,000 to attend the prize-giving dinner.

Speculation has been rife about the state of the ANC’s finances, amid allegations the party had difficulty paying staff towards the end of last year.

Speaking to the Sunday Times, Ramokgopa said the party was able to run its programmes and ANC members were contributing to the party.

She had focused on commercial activities rather than donations to resuscitate the ANC’s finances, and had encouraged companies reluctant to support a specific party to support the IEC’s multiparty fund.

“We are able to fund, but I can tell you that fundraising is not easy. You also have to be accountable, and we try to be as accountable as possible. We try to add value for those that fund us as PBF subscribers, and we have consistent subscribers. Our own deployees, especially in government, contribute to levies every month.

“We need to be accountable so we have to report regularly to the NEC — and I think much more regularly than it was before — so we are vividly aware that we must use resources prudently.”