The African National Congress should pay back the R10-million it received from businessmen Robert Gumede in the face of allegations that the donor was under police investigation, the Democratic Alliance said on Friday.
DA chief executive Ryan Coetzee said it was improper for the ANC to accept Gumede’s donation as the business was facing corruption allegations following a R600-million tender awarded by Telkom to his company, GijimaAST.
“The DA challenges the ANC to demonstrate its sound financial ethics by distancing itself from Gumede and returning the money he donated to
him until he is able to clear his name,” Coetzee said in a statement.
“It would be morally reprehensible for the ANC to run its election campaign with tainted funding.”
Gumede donated R10-million to the ANC at the ruling party’s last week fund-raising function in Sandton.
“When the DA received funding from the late Brett Kebble, we did not hesitate to take a high moral ground and paid the money back — the ANC should do the same,” Coetzee said.
The new ANC leadership, which had vowed to lay bare any financial impropriety within the organisation, should now stand by its commitment.
“As the ruling party it is incumbent on the ANC to take a moral lead and be above reproach in its financial dealings,” Coetzee said.