WATCH | ‘We are not buying votes’: Mantashe hits back over grant, RDP remarks

Johannesburg – ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has defended remarks made during a door-to-door campaign in Freedom Park over the weekend, where he told voters to acknowledge and thank the ruling party for interventions including RDP housing and social grants.

A video of the encounter was posted on social media, sparking widespread criticism, with some accusing Mantashe of using government benefits to influence voters ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

[WATCH] ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe to a Freedom Park resident: “Do your grandchildren get a child support grant?”
Resident: “Yes”
Mantashe: “Who is giving them that?” pic.twitter.com/3nmYjQ46Wg

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 5, 2026

Mantashe has rejected the accusations, insisting the ANC is “servicing society” rather than buying votes through its social policies.

“We equalised social grants for everybody, irrespective of colour, and that is an ANC policy,” Mantashe told Newzroom Afrika.

He said the ANC’s responsibility was to serve society, regardless of which party voters ultimately support.

“If another party takes over, it may decide to increase that grant or do away with it. But our responsibility is to serve society,” he said.

ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe has defended his remarks during a door-to-door campaign in Freedom Park, where he highlighted RDP housing and the child support grant as policies introduced under ANC rule. Mantashe rejects criticism that the comments amounted to… pic.twitter.com/UkSJPYOyUo

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) September 6, 2026

Mantashe also defended the ANC’s record on housing, education and social assistance, saying beneficiaries should recognise the impact of these policies while retaining their freedom of choice at the ballot box.

“There’s no vote buying. When that old lady asked me what she would get, I explained on the spot – we are not buying votes; we are servicing society,” he said.