The African National Congress says it is in the final stages of clearing its growing salary backlog, which has left several senior officials unpaid. Party secretary general Fikile Mbalula confirmed during a media briefing on Sunday that the matter is being addressed through intensified fundraising efforts. He acknowledged that his own salary remains outstanding, along with those of other senior figures, but stressed that payments are being processed this week.
Concerns about salary delays escalated at the end of November 2025, when some staff members were reportedly preparing to stage a walkout if the issue was not resolved urgently. Mbalula told the media that the threat of strike action has since been averted, explaining that the party had engaged staff and moved to settle the outstanding amounts.
The ANC’s monthly salary bill is estimated at about R120 million, reflecting the scale of the organisation’s workforce and the cost of its leadership structures. While Mbalula referred broadly to outstanding payments within “management,” it remains unclear whether this category includes members of the 87 seat National Executive Committee or senior officials in provincial structures. Publicly available data suggests the ANC employs more than 400 salaried staff, and management is likely to make up a significant portion of that group.
Based on these estimates, the outstanding salaries could amount to roughly R24 million. The delays form part of the party’s wider financial strain, worsened by declining donations and reduced contributions from traditional funders. Mbalula acknowledged that the situation reflects poorly on the organisation and said the party aims to stabilise its finances permanently through ongoing fundraising initiatives.
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