Cartoon for September 8, 2026

In a recent controversy, the African National Congress (ANC) has faced criticism over the leadership of its current chairperson, Gwede Mantashe. Some believe that Mantashe has been responsible for the party's downfall due to corruption and mismanagement. This issue came to the forefront over the weekend when Mantashe made comments about housing and the child support grant amount on RDP housing, which some interpreted as emotional blackmail.

Mantashe vehemently defended the ANC's 32 years in government, stating that its social policies, including grants, housing, and education, were aimed at "servicing society" rather than buying votes. He explained that the ANC equalized social grants for everyone, regardless of their color, and emphasized that this was an ANC policy.

Mantashe pointed to the ANC's records of introducing child support grants, free schooling, and housing schemes as evidence of transformation. He argued that the reasons for these grants were to combat malnutrition and to equally provide social class opportunities for everyone.

Critics have accused Mantashe of emotional blackmail after he urged voters to appreciate the ANC's achievements. In response, Mantashe rejected these allegations, clarifying that the ANC is not engaging in vote-buying. He explained that when an elderly woman asked him what she would receive, he provided an on-the-spot explanation of the benefits the ANC would offer.