Contrary to claims by “faceless people” Paul Mashatile the keeper of the African National Congress (ANC) privy purse has not received any donations from rich businessmen to pay outstanding salaries for party staffers.
On Thursday the ANC closed its offices around the country after staff downed tools over outstanding salaries.
But on Saturday, the ANC moved swiftly to deny that donors had come to the party’s rescue.
The ANC said it “noted with concern a misleading statement by faceless people who allege that a selection of business people donated money to the treasurer general.”
The ANC added: “The treasurer general wants to place on record that the claim is not only false but also malicious and plays on the current challenges facing the ANC”.
Describing the donation claims as “fake news”, the ANC said the falsehoods were designed to further confuse the matter of staff salaries.
The ANC said it wants to assure everybody that “its challenges” will be resolved based on several initiatives.
The party said the initiatives include crowdfunding, increasing membership fees, and levies.
“We have already agreed with provinces to take over the salary bill in provinces and this came to effect in the past two months,” said the ANC
“The ANC remains committed to resolving outstanding issues of delayed salaries.”
On Thursday, ANC staffers released a statement saying they had downed tools and were demanding, among other things, the immediate payment of outstanding salaries for July and August.
Another demand put forward by ANC staff was that outstanding provident fund and UIF contributions must be settled immediately.
There was no indication when the ANC would raise enough money to cover salaries.
