Johannesburg – The African National Congress (ANC) has warned South Africans against a fraudulent message promising an instant R300 payout as part of its 2026 local government election campaign.
The party said it had not authorised or launched any such giveaway, urging the public to avoid clicking suspicious links or sharing the message.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu warned that the scam could expose people to financial losses, identity theft and the misuse of their personal information.
“The African National Congress (ANC) is warning the public about a fraudulent message claiming that the organisation is offering an ‘instant free R300’ as part of its 2026 election campaign. This offer is fake,” the party said in a statement.
The ANC urged people not to provide identity numbers, banking details, card information, passwords or one-time PINs in response to the message.
It also warned against paying any supposed processing fee to claim the money, stressing that legitimate organisations would not request sensitive banking information or one-time PINs through unsolicited messages.
The party advised anyone who had clicked the link or shared personal or banking information to contact their bank immediately through its official channels.
ANC WARNS PUBLIC OF FAKE R300 CAMPAIGN GIVEAWAY AND URGES IMMEDIATE VIGILANCE https://t.co/Nn2jcb9XzB
— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) October 26, 2026
Victims were also urged to monitor their bank accounts and statements, change any compromised passwords and report suspicious transactions without delay.
The ANC condemned the use of its name to promote the fake offer, saying such scams exploited the public and undermined trust.
It called on South Africans to verify election-related information through the party’s official communication platforms before believing or sharing it.
Members of the public were also encouraged to report fraudulent messages, fake accounts and suspicious links to the relevant social media platforms and law-enforcement authorities.
“Protect yourself and your community. Verify before you share, do not click suspicious links, never disclose passwords or one-time PINs, and never pay to receive a promised benefit,” the party said.
The warning comes as political parties campaign ahead of the local government elections scheduled for 4 November. South Africans are being urged to remain alert to fraudulent messages that use political parties’ names or election campaigns to obtain personal information or money.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
