Storm erupts over R50, R20 notes thrown into crowd at ANC rally

It was raining money last weekend in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga, where frenzied people stampeded as an unidentified man, accompanied by former ANC eHlanzeni regional leader Ngrayi Ngwenya, threw bank notes into the crowd at a rally.

A video posted on social media showed the man in a black T-shirt and sunglasses throwing money from a truck as Ngwenya, who was in full ANC colours, raised his thumbs to the crowd.

People can be seen pushing and shoving in an attempt to grab their share of the R50 and R20 notes raining down on them, with party insiders saying this was part of buying influence ahead of the party’s provincial elective congress in December.

Ngwenya, a controversial figure, is a known lobbyist for premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane, who has ambitions to become the party chairperson.

He confirmed R3,500 was handed out to the crowd but said this had nothing to do with the elective congress. They had arrived late for an event held to promote a marathon and people had complained they were hungry.

“This is not attached to politics and the people who were given the money are elderly people who are not delegates for the conference. Also, I am not contesting any position, so what would I be buying influence for?”

Ngwenya said he had nothing to do with handing out the cash and had no idea who the man dishing out bank notes was, though he said the man “was just assisting”.

A party insider said the cash was meant to entice delegates and party members to rally behind Mtsweni-Tsipane’s campaign.

“Buying influence and votes has become the culture in the ANC. It is not how good or popular a leader is but about how deep their pockets are,” the insider said.

The party’s provincial spokesperson Sasekani Manzini said they “categorically” condemn such behaviour and will investigate whether the man dishing out cash was an ANC member.

“ANC leaders must strongly denounce such foreign tendencies of distributing money in public like that.

“While we acknowledge the good gesture, we urge ANC leaders to educate members of the public who wish to donate to the needy, to do so in a manner that upholds dignity of those receiving the donation,” she said.

Manzini said they have also noted a video in which Ngwenya condemned the handing out of money.

– siphom@citizen.co.za

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