ANC (African National Congress)
The African National Congress (ANC) is South Africa’s governing political party, founded in 1912 and in power since the end of apartheid in 1994. The ANC led South Africa’s liberation struggle and drew on a broad coalition of labour, communist, and civic movements. However, in the post-apartheid era its governance has been increasingly defined by corruption, factional conflict, and the systematic abuse of state power for party interests — documented extensively by the Zondo Commission.
Cadre deployment — the ANC’s formal policy of placing party loyalists in key state positions regardless of merit — is the structural mechanism through which state capture became possible. The Zondo Commission (Vol 6) found cadre deployment unconstitutional and unlawful, finding that it enabled the ANC to “control all levers of state power” and created the conditions for state capture. Cyril Ramaphosa appeared before Zondo and was found to have misled the Commission about cadre deployment — representing a significant personal finding. The ANC, rather than accepting Zondo’s findings, mounted a High Court challenge in 2022 to defend cadre deployment. The DA’s counter-application argues the policy is unconstitutional and the case continues.
State capture era (2009–2018): The Zondo Commission documented that the ANC — including Jacob Zuma and his political allies — directly benefited from the extensive corruption of state enterprises. Key ANC office-bearers implicated: Zuma (state capture principal), Gwede Mantashe (ANC SG; Bosasa security upgrades), Nomvula Mokonyane (ANC Premier/Minister; Bosasa bribes), Dudu Myeni (ANC-connected; SAA chair; Bosasa conduit). Bosasa (African Global Operations) donated R3 million to the ANC’s 2014 election campaign and embedded itself deeply in ANC financial structures. The Gupta Family operated in part through ANC-aligned patronage networks.
Electoral decline: The ANC’s vote share has eroded consistently: 70% (2004), 66% (2009), 62% (2014), 57% (2019), 46% (2021 local elections). In the May 2024 general election, the ANC received approximately 40% — losing its outright parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party led by Zuma contributed to this collapse, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC subsequently formed a Government of National Unity (GNU) with the DA, IFP, and smaller parties to retain power.
Connections
- Cyril Ramaphosa — ANC President Dec 2017; national President 2018-present; misled Zondo on cadre deployment
- Jacob Zuma — ANC President 2007-2017; expelled 2023; led MK party 2024; central figure in state capture under ANC leadership
- Gwede Mantashe — ANC SG 2007-2017; ANC National Chairperson 2017-present; Bosasa beneficiary; Zondo prosecution referral
- Nomvula Mokonyane — ANC First Deputy SG Dec 2022; Bosasa beneficiary despite Zondo findings
- Bosasa (African Global Operations) — R3m donation to ANC 2014 election; embedded in ANC structures
- Gupta Family — operated parallel ANC-aligned patronage network; influenced ANC cabinet composition via Zuma
- Zondo Commission — Vol 6 found cadre deployment unconstitutional; ANC found to have benefited from state capture; Ramaphosa found to have misled commission
- uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party — breakaway party led by Zuma; took ANC votes in 2024 election, contributing to ANC losing majority