JOHANNESBURG, Wednesday 28 October 2026 — The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has reportedly filed a notice opposing an application seeking to redirect public funding allocated to the African National Congress (ANC) towards settling an approximately R40 million debt claimed by a former election campaign service provider.
The development was reported by Sunday World on Tuesday, as telecommunications and digital services company Eltel continued its legal efforts to recover money it says the ANC owes for work performed during the 2019 national and provincial elections.
Company seeks access to ANC funding
Eltel founder Asif Casoojee has approached the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg seeking urgent relief over the alleged outstanding debt.
The company says it supplied digital marketing, communications and technical services to the ANC during its 2019 election campaign.
Court papers reported by several publications place the outstanding principal amount at approximately R23.3 million.
Eltel says interest and legal costs have increased the total claim to approximately R40 million.
The company is seeking an order requiring the IEC to withhold future statutory allocations to the ANC and direct funds towards settling the claim.
IEC drawn into dispute
Sunday World reported on 27 October that the IEC had filed a notice to oppose the application.
The commission’s detailed legal grounds for opposition were not established in the reviewed reporting.
The Citizen separately reported that IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela declined to comment on the internal affairs of political parties when questioned about the litigation.
The commission’s reported procedural opposition should not be interpreted as a finding on whether the ANC owes Eltel money.
Paul Mashatile cited in proceedings
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been cited in the application in connection with his previous role as ANC treasurer-general.
Eltel alleges that the party repeatedly acknowledged the debt and made commitments to settle outstanding amounts.
The company has referred to correspondence and a payment instrument allegedly signed by Mashatile in 2022.
According to court papers reported by TimesLIVE, the company says an initial payment of R1 million was made but that the remaining principal debt was not settled.
These claims form part of the litigation and remain subject to the court’s determination.
Financial pressure ahead of municipal elections
The dispute comes as the ANC campaigns for the 4 November local government elections.
Eltel argues that funds received by the party could be spent on election activities before the company is able to enforce its claim.
The company says prolonged non-payment has placed its operations and employees at financial risk.
The ANC has previously faced separate litigation over unpaid election campaign services, including a dispute with Ezulweni Investments.
Those proceedings are distinct from the Eltel matter.
Court proceedings remain unresolved
The latest reporting indicates that the urgent application is continuing, with the hearing timetable having changed.
No ruling authorising the IEC to redirect party funding was established in the sources reviewed.
The court will have to consider the relief sought by Eltel, the responses of the cited parties and the legal framework governing political party funding.
The outcome could affect the company’s ability to recover its claim and clarify whether statutory party allocations may be targeted through the proposed legal mechanism.
