The long-standing legal wrangle between the ANC and Ezulweni Investments, a marketing company, is far from over after lawyers representing the company threatened to obtain writs of execution for the movable assets at the party’s provincial offices in a bid to recover a debt of over R85 million.

This comes after the company’s legal representative, Attorney Shafique Sarlie, obtained a writ of execution dated October 3, 2025 to attach the ANC’s assets, including movable goods and incorporeal property, at Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg.

The writ, which was leaked in a social media post, has since been slammed by the ANC as an attempt to sensationalise the legal dispute between the two parties.

The writ authorises the seizure of the incorporeal property, which refers to intangible assets, like rights, titles and interests in accounts held with financial institutions.

In a media statement the ANC said it has formally notified Ezulweni and their attorney through its legal representatives and forensic auditors about the novation of the court order.

Party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri revealed that the party’s investigators, Tayfin Forensics, have obtained a sworn affidavit from a former ANC employee, who “admitted to being bribed to falsely claim that Ezulweni delivered banners and advertising materials”.

“Further forensic investigations have revealed that Ezulweni was not registered for VAT at the time of the transaction, yet fraudulently charged VAT. This issue will be referred to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) for appropriate action,” she said.

Bhengu-Motsiri said the ANC is in the process of setting aside the writ of execution and intends to pursue a counterclaim for all payments made to date. 

“The ANC believes that Ezulweni has been unjustly enriched and plans to initiate private prosecution proceedings against its directors. The ANC will not be distracted by attempts to sensationalise this matter and by the leaking of confidential information to the media,” she said.

The ANC further announced that it will be focusing on judicial proceedings regarding its dispute with Ezulweni and will refrain from further public comment on the matter. 

Sarlie, however, dismissed the ANC’s claims about potential SARS VAT regulation transgressions, saying: “How does that exonerate them even if it was true? This thing about fraud is untrue. I saw their statement. I think they should fire the public relations officer.”

He claimed the ANC previously raised allegations of fraud, which were dismissed by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA).

This was after the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg ruled that the party must pay R102 million, plus interest and costs, for supplying posters and banners for the 2019 election campaign.

The ANC attempted to appeal the judgment, but the SCA upheld the High Court’s decision on November 24, 2023.  

Sarlie suggested the media question the ANC about their actions after learning of the fraud allegations, particularly why they proceeded with an out-of-court settlement agreement in 2023 despite knowing about the alleged fraud. 

“The question that should be asked to them is that – did you pay in terms of the settlement? The resounding answer to that is, no,” he said 

Despite the party’s efforts to set aside the writ of execution, Sarlie stated that Ezulweni will not back down from attaching the ANC’s accounts.

“We are proceeding with attaching their account and we will see what it yields. It is not likely to satisfy the rest of the R85 million. The furniture you may know is worth R140,000. We are also going after (their) other accounts that we are busy investigating. We are going for the movables at their provincial offices, nationwide. We are preparing writs in that regard. And ultimately if they don’t pay we are going to seek liquidation against them,” he said.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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