LISTEN: Ramaphosa’s Leaked Audio Confession: ANC Image Trumps South Africa, Public Funds Weaponised for Party Survival

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been caught on tape prioritising the reputation of his scandal-plagued African National Congress over transparency, accountability, and the proper use of South African taxpayers’ money. In a leaked recording from an ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Ramaphosa openly admits he was prepared to “fall on his sword” and limit scrutiny to his own CR17 campaign funding — rather than expose broader abuse of public funds for internal party campaigns.

This is not opposition spin. These are his own words. While South Africans endure electricity blackouts, joblessness above 30%, violent crime, and failing municipalities, the President’s primary worry remains polishing the ANC brand — even if it means shielding misuse of state resources.

He is more concerned with the ANC's image than the South African government, or country as a whole, using YOUR money to further the ANC agenda.
pic.twitter.com/O3yNBPZAla

— Alice VL (@RiseAgainstEvil) May 8, 2026

The Damning Transcript – Straight from Ramaphosa

In the audio, Ramaphosa discusses investigations that could reveal public money being funnelled into ANC leadership battles. He states he told officials to focus investigations only on his CR17 campaign:

“I even said to the officials, I think it’s enough to focus on one only CR17... because I don’t want the ANC to be dragged, once again, in the mud when those assessments, investigations will reveal that a lot of money, of public funds, was used... I am prepared to fall on the sword so that the CR17 campaign, yes, should be the only one that is looked at, and not the others, because the image of the African National Congress is what I am most concerned about.”

He continues: “Each one of us knows that quite a bit of money that is used in campaigns...” and expresses reluctance to let the public discover the extent of state funding for party activities.

Translation: Ramaphosa would rather the narrative stick to private donations to his own campaign (CR17) than let South Africans learn how their tax rands — meant for roads, hospitals, schools, and security — were allegedly diverted to advance ANC internal power struggles. Party first. Country second. Always.

The Bigger Picture: Systemic Abuse of Public Resources

This revelation lands amid years of State Capture scandals, Auditor-General reports highlighting billions in irregular expenditure, and persistent allegations of cadre enrichment. The Zondo Commission exposed how public entities were looted, yet here is the President admitting — in private — that protecting the ANC’s image outweighs exposing potential corruption involving public money.

South Africa’s taxpayers already shoulder one of the heaviest burdens in the world for some of the worst service delivery outcomes. Fuel levies, VAT, income tax, and sin taxes fund an bloated public sector where too often the priority is political survival, not national renewal. Ramaphosa’s stance confirms what many critics have long argued: under ANC rule, the state is too often treated as an extension of the party.

CR17 itself faced scrutiny over large undisclosed donations, yet Ramaphosa positions it as the “clean” distraction from deeper public-fund scandals. This is classic cadre logic — sacrifice truth for the collective image of the movement.

Time to Demand Better

Right-leaning analysts, opposition parties like the DA, and concerned citizens have repeatedly warned that cadre deployment and unchecked party funding blur the line between state and ANC. This leak proves the point. A government that obsesses over its party’s “image” while infrastructure collapses and citizens emigrate is a government that has lost its way.

Parliament’s Scopa (Standing Committee on Public Accounts) attempted to probe this, only to face ANC resistance. The public deserves full disclosure: Which public funds were used? By whom? For what exact campaigns? How much of your money has propped up internal ANC battles while the country burns?

Ramaphosa’s leaked words expose a fundamental conflict of interest. A President should be concerned first with the image and prosperity of South Africa — not a political party that has governed for over 30 years with diminishing returns. Economic freedom, property rights, reliable energy, and law and order should come before any NEC optics.

The ANC’s priorities are on full display. South Africans paying the bills must now decide theirs. Enough with the protection rackets. Demand accountability, or prepare for more of the same decline. The sword Ramaphosa offered to fall on should instead clear the way for genuine reform.