ANCWL demands apology, disciplinary action against Mantashe over ‘derogatory’ sex-for-jobs remarks

What was said and where the reaction came from

In the social media video, Mantashe responded to the journalist by saying:

“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 continued:

“If councillors, once elected, try to use their position to sleep with people, just know that the man is behaving badly and is going around sleeping with people. That’s not an ANC thing.”

The ANCWL said it was deeply disturbed by those comments and considered them “gratuitously improper”, according to the league’s secretary-general, Nokuthula Nqaba.

The league’s demands

The ANCWL set out a series of actions it wants taken in response to Mantashe’s remarks. In its statement the league called for:

• A public apology from Gwede Mantashe to the journalist and to the public.
• Organisational disciplinary action against Mantashe for what the league described as his repeated insults and attacks on women.
• A reprimand from ANC leadership, with the league stressing that his role as an elder of the organisation requires leading by example.

As the league explained:

“Therefore, the ANC Women’s League apologises to the Newzroom journalist and calls on the Comrade Gwede Mantashe to issue a public apology to both the journalist and the public for his inappropriate remarks,”

and added:

“We also call for him to be subjected to organisational disciplinary action -in response to his repeated insults and attacks on women and the ANCWL reject the use of his age to excuse his dishonourable conduct.”

The league also urged party leaders to take a public stance:

“We call on the ANC leadership to reprimand Comrade Mantashe.”

Values, history and leadership expectations

The ANCWL framed its demand by pointing to the party’s founding principles and history. In its statement the league emphasised that the ANC prides itself on a long history of commitment to non-sexism and equality, values it said are embedded in the organisation’s policies.

Nqaba highlighted the movement’s origins and moral expectations, saying:

“We also emphasise that the organisation’s founding values were rooted in Christian principles: it was established in a church and guided by men and women of the cloth.”

The league drew a throughline from those origins to the present day, adding:

“Each generation of leaders of the ANC since 1912 have been tasked with the responsibility to uphold revolutionary morality and observance of moral regeneration.”

It argued those principles remain defining features for those in leadership and that Mantashe, as an elder, should offer guidance and support to women rather than use language the league called morally objectionable.

How the issue sits in a broader context

Complaints about public figures’ language and conduct can prompt internal party processes and public scrutiny. Political organisations often face pressure to address members’ behaviour when it appears to contradict stated values, particularly on issues of gender equality and respect. The ANCWL’s call for disciplinary measures is an example of party structures seeking to hold senior officials accountable to organisational principles.

Previous controversy involving Mantashe

The ANCWL’s criticism follows an earlier episode in September when Mantashe faced backlash over remarks made during an ANC door-to-door campaign in Freedom Park, Johannesburg. A video of that interaction showed him asking a resident whether her grandchildren received the Child Support Grant and who provided it after she confirmed that they did.

That exchange prompted accusations that he was using government benefits to influence voters ahead of local government elections. Mantashe rejected those accusations, defending the ANC’s record on social grants and housing and saying that highlighting government policies was not an attempt to buy votes.

What could happen next

The ANCWL has explicitly requested both a public apology and organisational disciplinary action. If party structures act on such a request, the process would be handled internally within the ANC’s disciplinary mechanisms, and could include formal inquiries or hearings. The league has also asked ANC leadership to issue a reprimand, signaling that it expects a visible response from the party’s senior ranks.

Why this matters

At the core of the ANCWL’s statement is the expectation that senior leaders model the party’s stated moral and equality principles. The league framed its demand as a defence of dignity for women and of the organisation’s traditions, asking that those entrusted with leadership uphold those standards.

How the ANC responds will determine whether the league’s call translates into tangible organisational action or a public clarification. For now, the ANCWL has made its position clear and has asked for both an apology and disciplinary measures in response to remarks it described as inappropriate.