ANC Chris Hani Region Faces Membership Fraud Allegations

The African National Congress (ANC) in the Chris Hani Region is reeling from allegations of widespread membership manipulation, with claims of systematic fraud and misconduct threatening to undermine the party’s credibility.

A scathing letter addressed to ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, dated April 1, 2026, alleges that membership systems were manipulated, and meetings were falsely claimed to have been held.

The letter, penned by Sinawo Makangela of Makangela Mtungani Inc. on behalf of Siyabulela Nxozi, a branch chairperson and ANC member, demands immediate access to information on attendance registers, electronic membership data, and meeting minutes.

The allegations include “ID harvesting,” where identification documents and cards of members were collected and scanned to create the impression that meetings were quorate, and failure to apply the “step aside rule” to Regional Executive Committee (REC) members facing serious criminal charges.

According to the letter, these practices reflect a pattern of manipulation and possible fraud, affecting the credibility and reliability of the entire membership system in the Chris Hani Region.

“The client is aware of REC members whose election is itself questionable and will be the subject of court action, having not attended to these concerns,” said Makangela.

The allegations have sparked concerns about governance and transparency within the ANC’s Chris Hani Region. Makangela urged to investigate these claims and ensure accountability within its ranks.

Makangela warned that “Failure to comply with the request for information may lead to an assumption that the information does not exist or has been withheld, violating the ANC Constitution and the country’s Constitution.”

The ANC has been approached for comment but has not responded at the time of writing.