JOHANNESBURG, Friday 23 October 2026 — The African National Congress has directed its national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, to issue a formal apology following controversial remarks about allegations that municipal councillors demanded sexual favours from women seeking employment.
The decision was confirmed on Thursday after the party’s national leadership considered criticism of Mantashe’s comments during an election campaign visit to the North West.
Mantashe, who also serves as Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, had previously resisted calls to apologise.
ANC leadership intervenes
The ANC’s National Officials and National Working Committee considered the controversy after the party’s Women’s League demanded action against Mantashe.
According to the ANC, its leadership directed Mantashe to offer a sincere apology.
The party said it considered the matter closed following that decision.
The intervention represents a formal response from the ANC’s national leadership rather than another statement of criticism from one of its internal structures.
It follows several days of disagreement over the language Mantashe used when responding to allegations of sexual exploitation.
Remarks followed question about councillors
The controversy began when a journalist questioned Mantashe about allegations that councillors in a North West municipality were demanding sexual favours from women in exchange for employment opportunities.
Mantashe responded using explicit language referring to female genitalia.
He also argued that any councillor engaging in such conduct was acting as an individual rather than on behalf of the ANC.
His remarks drew criticism from the ANC Women’s League, which argued that the response trivialised allegations involving the abuse of political authority.
The underlying allegations against the councillors have not been established through a criminal conviction or publicly available disciplinary finding.
Women’s League demanded disciplinary action
ANC Women’s League secretary-general Nokuthula Nqaba called for Mantashe to apologise to the journalist and the public.
The league also sought internal disciplinary action, arguing that senior political leaders had a responsibility to address allegations of exploitation with appropriate seriousness.
In a further statement on Thursday, the league criticised Mantashe’s response to its initial demand.
It argued that the issue concerned the dignity of women and the abuse of authority rather than the linguistic interpretation of his remarks.
Gender justice organisation Sonke Gender Justice also called for an unconditional apology and an investigation into the underlying allegations.
Mantashe initially resisted apology
Mantashe had previously questioned what he was expected to apologise for.
In comments reported on Wednesday, he said the Women’s League had not directly explained its objections to him.
He also defended his use of isiXhosa, arguing that the wording had been misunderstood.
The ANC’s subsequent intervention established the party leadership’s position on the matter.
However, no completed public apology from Mantashe was independently confirmed at the time of reporting.
Party faces questions over accountability
The controversy comes during the final stages of campaigning for the 4 November municipal elections.
The ANC has repeatedly committed itself to gender equality and action against abuse of public office.
Its leadership said women must be treated with dignity and that employment opportunities should never be conditional on sexual favours.
The party’s decision to require an apology addresses Mantashe’s remarks but does not establish the outcome of any investigation into the allegations involving councillors.
It also does not confirm that formal disciplinary proceedings have been instituted against Mantashe.
Further clarity will depend on whether he issues the requested apology and whether the ANC takes separate action concerning the underlying allegations.
