PRETORIA, Gauteng — ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has firmly defended his recent campaign remarks linking social grants and RDP housing to the ruling party’s legacy, rejecting accusations that his comments amounted to vote-buying or emotional blackmail. During a door-to-door campaign in Freedom Park, Mantashe emphasized that the African National Congress is “servicing society” through established welfare policies rather than leveraging them for electoral gain.
Addressing the backlash surrounding his interactions with residents, Mantashe clarified the context of his statements. He highlighted that the child support grant and Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses are direct results of ANC governance over the past 32 years. He noted that the RDP housing concept, originally championed by the late Joe Slovo to ensure a “cover over the head of the people” with a smaller house and bigger yard, was a deliberate policy to transform the apartheid system. Furthermore, he stressed that the child support grant was specifically introduced to combat malnutrition, alongside no-fee school policies that ensure free education by having the government cover the costs.
Drawing a contrast with opposition promises, Mantashe referenced claims by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to increase grants from R2,400 to R4,500, framing such pledges as future party policies rather than current realities. He stressed that the ANC’s foundational policy is to equalize social grants for all citizens, irrespective of color, correcting historical disparities where grants were once distributed in smaller, quarterly amounts.
When the interviewer challenged whether highlighting these benefits to vulnerable households constitutes emotional blackmail, Mantashe pushed back. He argued that citizens must appreciate tangible progress—such as the rise of university graduates supported by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS)—while still maintaining the right to raise constructive criticism. He also rejected the notion that fostering a welfare state is a negative, arguing that it is essential for addressing market failures and closing economic gaps left by the private sector. He contextualized this by noting that 70% of the economy remains in private hands, underscoring the private sector’s responsibility to collaborate with the government in job creation.
The chairperson also took aim at the media, accusing some journalists of being “dishonest by nature.” He alleged that certain outlets provide favorable coverage to parties like the United Democratic Movement (UDM) while disproportionately labeling the ANC as “thieves.” Mantashe insisted that while the party owns its flaws and individual acts of corruption, it is unfair to attribute the actions of rogue members to the entire organization, especially when it overshadows decades of developmental progress.
Shifting to internal electoral logistics, the interviewer questioned whether the ANC was in chaos after some candidates reportedly missed the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) deadline for nominations. Mantashe denied any chaos, clarifying that the submission rejection issue affected only four out of 254 municipalities. He emphasized that the systemic glitch impacted approximately 45 different political parties, not just the ANC.
Despite the interviewer noting that the IEC had previously denied the existence of a technical glitch, Mantashe argued the commission reacted too hastily without adequately investigating the complaints of the 45 affected parties. He affirmed that the ANC will hold its secretary-general’s office accountable once the formal process concludes. In the interim, he confirmed that the party is taking the disagreement to the electoral court, allowing an independent arbiter to judge the matter based on facts and proof rather than premature assumptions.
