Hope Ntanzi|Published
ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has apologised for his controversial remarks about alleged sex-for-jobs practices, with secretary-general Fikile Mbalula declaring the matter closed following calls by the ANC Women’s League for an apology and disciplinary action.
Mbalula said ANC officials and the National Working Committee (NWC) had reflected on the controversy and called on Mantashe to apologise.
“No, the issue of the national chair is settled; he has apologised,” Mbalula said during the party’s post-Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement reaction.
“All what he was explaining was he was explaining that he doesn't understand what he must apologise about, but he's apologising.”
The controversy followed remarks Mantashe made when a Newzroom Afrika journalist questioned him about allegations that a councillor in a mining town had demanded sexual favours from women seeking employment.
In a video of the exchange that circulated on social media, Mantashe used explicit language to refer to the alleged conduct and argued that it should be treated as individual misconduct rather than an ANC issue.
“Don't involve me in issues of asking for a vagina. This person asked for his vagina from a person that he encountered. This can't be an ANC issue,” he said.
Mantashe added that councillors who used their positions to pursue sexual relationships were behaving badly and should be held accountable for their conduct.
Women's League demanded apology and disciplinary action
The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) condemned Mantashe’s remarks, describing them as “gratuitously improper” and calling for a public apology to the journalist and the public.
The league’s secretary-general, Nokuthula Nqaba, also called for organisational disciplinary action against Mantashe and urged ANC leadership to reprimand him.
The ANCWL argued that his position as a senior leader carried a responsibility to uphold the party’s stated principles of respect, dignity and non-sexism. It also rejected the use of his age as an excuse for the remarks.
In his interview with Newzroom Afrika, Mantashe said he was prepared to apologise but questioned what specifically had offended the league.
“If the issue is not being euphemistic enough, then I'm ready to apologise,” he said.
Mantashe defended his choice of words, saying he had consulted Xhosa linguists who agreed with his interpretation.
He maintained that his intention was to condemn men who exploited women rather than defend such behaviour.
“The reality of the matter is that that message was harder on men than it was on women because it was saying, men who misbehave are bad in society,” Mantashe said.
He argued that sexual harassment and demands for sexual favours should be treated as individual misconduct, with those responsible facing consequences, rather than automatically being regarded as organisational wrongdoing.
Mbalula says leaders must choose their words carefully
Mbalula said the dispute should not continue to centre on the interpretation of Mantashe’s language, arguing that political leaders needed to communicate in ways that were appropriate and understood by the broader public.
“We can debate linguistics and all of that and so on, and that's not where we are now. So just polish the language, that's what is important,” he said.
He acknowledged that a person could believe their remarks were justified but still cause offence through how they were expressed.
“What they are saying is you might have said something right, but it doesn't land well, broadly in society. It is as though you are too rough and all of that,” Mbalula said.
He added that the ANC valued Mantashe as a senior leader despite the controversy.
“We love our national chair. He's doing very well, and he likes to put things the way they are, and so on,” he said.
Mbalula acknowledged that the Women’s League had publicly expressed its objections but said the party had resolved the matter.
“So the Women's League, as women, did not like that, and they expressed their view even publicly. We have settled the matter now. It is closed, unless there are some people who still want to debate it and all of that.
“But as far as the ANC is concerned, that matter is closed, and it is final,” Mbalula said.
hope.ntanzi@iol.co.za
IOL Politics