Finance minister Enoch Godongwana believes he can rescue his party, the ANC, from the financial mess it’s in.
Godongwana believes he has the experience and qualities to alleviate the party from its financial troubles.
He has puthis hand up for the party’s treasurer-general position when the party elects leaders at its national conference in December.
“I’ve been around for a while, I’ve got an appreciation of the financial challenges that have faced the movement over the years and think I’m equal to the task,” Godongwana told TimesLIVE Premium on Tuesday.
However, he said his availability would depend on whether the NPA opts to charge him or not.
Godongwana is facing sexual harassment allegations from a masseuse at a Kruger National Park lodge. The NPA is yet to decide whether to proceed to charge him.
The ANC has continuously failed to pay staff salaries, provident fund, medical aid and even had its bank account garnisheed by SA Revenue Service to claw back some of its debt.
The party has struggled to raise enough money to settle its monthly R18m staff salaries’ bill.
Godongwana, one of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s strongest allies, mentioned this as one of the things the ruling party will have to address, as it cannot survive a ballooning salary bill.
Party spokesperson Pule Mabe told the national executive committee (NEC) the ANC should start retrenching staff. He had at the time rallied behind a move for the party to do a staff audit.
Mabe is also rumoured to be gunning for the treasurer-general position, along with ANC Ekurhuleni chair Mzwandile Masina and Eastern Cape executive committee member Andile Lungisa. Lungisa has, however, been suspended from the party until September 2023.
Godongwana said the ANC would have to make several changes to its financial structure.
“II think there are a couple of things we need to do, among others, to ensure we live within the limits of what the movement can afford,” Godongwana said.
“Second, there must be a change in the legislation which limits the amount an individual can contribute to a political party. Currently the regulation says you can only give up to R15m per year. If somebody wants to give you R20m they can’t. So that limitation is a problem. We are not concerned about disclosure, we are concerned about the maximum that an individual can give you.”
He said he expected a “couple of provinces” to nominate him for the position.
TimesLIVE Premium understands one of those provinces is Limpopo, where some of his lobbyists are pushing for ANC constitutional amendments to include a full-time treasurer-general at Luthuli House.
They have argued this clause was to the detriment of the party because a treasurer-general should be in government to properly interact with potential donors.
“We think he’s the right person to intervene in the financial crisis within the ANC because of the relations he has with business. Business would only assist the ANC if there is a person they trust and can relate to, and out of all the candidates we think he will be able to do that,” one of his lobbyists said.
“We believe he’s the answer to gearing the private sector. Of all those who have raised their hands, he is the only one that can garner private sector support for the ANC.”
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