Editing African National Congress (section)

===Corruption controversies===
{{See also|Corruption in South Africa}}{{further|South African Arms Deal}}

The most prominent corruption case involving the ANC relates to a series of bribes paid to companies involved in the ongoing R55 billion [[South African Arms Deal|Arms Deal saga]], which [[Schabir Shaik trial|resulted in]] a long term jail sentence to then Deputy President [[Jacob Zuma]]'s legal adviser [[Schabir Shaik]]. Zuma, the former South African President, [[Jacob Zuma corruption charges|was charged with]] fraud, bribery and corruption in the Arms Deal, but the charges were subsequently withdrawn by the [[National Prosecuting Authority]] of South Africa due to their delay in prosecution.<ref>{{cite news |date=9 October 2008 |title=Opposition hails challenge to ANC rule |url=http://www.pretorianews.co.za/?fSectionId=&fArticleId=vn20081009055615571C284334}}</ref> The ANC has also been criticised for its subsequent abolition of the [[Scorpions (South Africa)|Scorpions]], the multidisciplinary agency that investigated and prosecuted organised crime and corruption, and was heavily involved in the investigation into Zuma and Shaik. [[Tony Yengeni]], in his position as chief whip of the ANC and head of the Parliaments defence committee has recently been named as being involved in bribing the German company [[ThyssenKrupp]] over the purchase of four corvettes for the SANDF.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

Other corruption issues in the 2000s included the sexual misconduct and criminal charges of [[Beaufort West Local Municipality|Beaufort West]] municipal manager [[Truman Prince]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Bester |first=Ronel |date=5 May 2005 |title=Action against Prince 'a farce' |work=[[Die Burger]] |url=http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1700232,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507032712/http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0%2C%2C2-7-1442_1700232%2C00.html |archive-date=7 May 2005}}</ref> and the [[Oilgate]] scandal, in which millions of Rand in funds from a state-owned company were funnelled into ANC coffers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Special Report: Oilgate |work=Mail & Guardian |url=http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport.aspx?area=oilgate |url-status=dead |access-date=27 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814083114/http://www.mg.co.za/specialreport.aspx?area=oilgate |archive-date=14 August 2007}}</ref>

The ANC has also been accused of using government and civil society to fight its political battles against opposition parties such as the [[Democratic Alliance (South Africa)|Democratic Alliance]]. The result has been a number of complaints and allegations that none of the political parties truly represent the interests of the poor.<ref>{{cite web |date=20 February 2008 |title=DA councillor's role in Delft is 'criminal' |url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20080220113540685C199776 |work=Cape Argus}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=28 February 2008 |title=DA's Delft councillor denies claims |work=Cape Argus |url=http://www.capeargus.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=3571&fArticleId=vn20080228113641490C401174}}</ref> This has resulted in the "[[No Land! No House! No Vote!]]" Campaign which became very prominent during elections.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 May 2005 |title=The 'No Land, No House, No Vote' campaign still on for 2009 |work=[[Abahlali baseMjondolo]] |url=http://libcom.org/library/the-no-land-no-house-no-vote-campaign-still-2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=12 December 2005 |title=IndyMedia Presents: No Land! No House! No Vote! |url=http://antieviction.org.za/2005/12/12/indymedia-presents-no-land-no-house-no-vote/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425165902/http://antieviction.org.za/2005/12/12/indymedia-presents-no-land-no-house-no-vote/ |archive-date=25 April 2009 |publisher=Anti-Eviction Campaign}}</ref> In 2018, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported on the killings of ANC corruption whistleblowers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Norimitsu Onishi |last2=Selam Gebrekidan |date=30 September 2018 |title=Hit Men and Power: South Africa's Leaders Are Killing One Another |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/30/world/africa/south-africa-anc-killings.html?stream=world |access-date=2 October 2018 |quote="If you understand the Cosa Nostra, you don't only kill the person, but you also send a strong message," said Thabiso Zulu, another A.N.C. whistle-blower who, fearing for his life, is now in hiding.  "We broke the rule of omertà," he added, saying that the party of Nelson Mandela had become like the Mafia.}}</ref>

During an address on 28 October 2021, former president Thabo Mbeki commented on the history of corruption within the ANC. He reflected that Mandela had already warned in 1997 that the ANC was attracting individuals who viewed the party as "a route to power and self-enrichment." He added that the [[National Executive Committee of the African National Congress|ANC leadership]] "did not know how to deal with this problem."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maphanga |first1=Canny |last2=Gerber |first2=Jan |date=29 October 2021 |title=ANC has failed to keep people seeking 'self-enrichment' out of party |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/anc-has-failed-to-keep-people-seeking-self-enrichment-out-of-party-20211029 |access-date=30 October 2021 |publisher=News24}}</ref> During a lecture on 10 December, Mbeki reiterated concerns about "careerists" within the party, and stressed the need to "purge itself of such members".<ref>{{cite web |last=Maphanga |first=Canny |date=11 December 2021 |title=Many see their ANC membership as a ticket to power and resources – Thabo Mbeki |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/many-see-their-anc-membership-as-a-ticket-to-power-and-resources-thabo-mbeki-20211211 |access-date=11 December 2021 |publisher=News24}}</ref>

In May 2024, the [[International Consortium of Investigative Journalists]] in association with [[amaBhungane]] showed in documents that R200 million in the ANC's election fund was siphoned off to the church of controversial archbishop [[Bheki Lukhele]] in Eswatini; the Chief Financial Officer of the ANC, [[Bongani Mahlalela]] along with the Ambassador of Eswatini to Belgium, [[Sibusisiwe Mngomezulu]], were implicated in the scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tshwane |first=Tebogo |date=2024-04-30 |title=The ANC, the megachurch and the mystery of the R200-million money flows |url=https://amabhungane.org/the-anc-the-megachurch-and-the-mystery-of-the-r200-million-money-flows/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=amaBhungane |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tshwane |first=Tebogo |date=2024-05-08 |title=The ANC, the megachurch, and the mystery money flows – Part Two: 'God's Laundry' |url=https://amabhungane.org/the-anc-the-megachurch-and-the-mystery-money-flows-part-two-gods-laundry/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=amaBhungane |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-26 |title=Millions in suspicious transactions tie South Africa's ruling party to a controversial Swazi archbishop, documents show – ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/swazi-secrets/millions-in-suspicious-transactions-tie-south-africas-ruling-party-to-a-controversial-swazi-archbishop-documents-show/ |access-date=2024-05-29 |language=en-US}}</ref>