Fact Check — Did Iran fund South Africa’s approach to the ICJ over Israel?
The reason this claim is difficult to conclusively fact-check is because we don’t have access to the ANC’s balance sheets, so there’s no way of categorically refuting the idea that the party has just received a massive donation from Iran.
Support for South Africa's ICJ case against Israel outside the Western Cape High Court on 11 January 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. On 29 December 2023, South Africa initiated proceedings against Israel for alleged crimes against humanity committed in Palestine. In the 84-page court application, South Africa labels Israel's attacks, which started on 7 October, as genocidal in character. (Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)
This is a difficult claim to fact-check, as will be seen, but it’s an important one because it has been repeated by some fairly high-profile public figures and has found quite a bit of traction on social media.
We’ve also been besieged by emails from Daily Maverick readers asking us if this claim is true.
The allegation is essentially: The ANC, which for years has been teetering on the verge of bankruptcy, announced in early January that it had managed to stabilise its finances. It didn’t really give any specifics on how this had been accomplished.
In the same week, South Africa approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague to ask that Israel’s actions in Gaza be classified as
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To some people, the timing of these two events is suspicious. And so the rumour was born that Iran, an enemy of Israel, had essentially paid the ANC to litigate against Israel in the ICJ.
The major person who spread this claim appears to have been Frans Cronje, the former CEO of the Institute of Race Relations, in an interview with the Johannesburg radio station ChaiFM. A similar claim was made by advocate Paul Hoffman from Accountability Now
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The reason this claim is difficult to conclusively fact-check is because we don’t have access to the ANC’s balance sheets, so there’s no way of categorically refuting the idea that the party has just received a massive donation from Iran.
We asked ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu straight up: Has the ANC received money from Iran? She replied: “Unlike other parties, or even NGOs for that matter, the ANC does declare where its funding is derived.”
She’s referring to the regulations in the Political Party Funding Act – and we do know that if the ANC did receive funding from Iran, it would be a violation of this legislation, which prohibits South African political parties from accepting any funding from foreign governments except for training and policy development.
Bhengu said the idea that Iran was paying the ANC to approach the ICJ was “preposterous”.
It should be noted that the only reason we are led to believe that the ANC has just received some kind of cash injection is because ofcomments by the party’s treasurer-general, Gwen Ramokgopa, on the sidelines of the ANC’s January 8th birthday celebrations. She told journalists the party was in better shape financially, saying: “We are still not yet out of the woods but […] we have been able to stabilise our finances.”
We don’t know anything further about whether that is even true, or whether the ANC is putting on a brave face ahead of the elections. But Bhengu told us the party’s greater financial stability was thanks to membership fees, its debit order system and in-kind contributions.
In terms of the wider claim that South Africa is doing Iran’s bidding on the international stage, Department of Justice spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told Daily Maverick that this is offensive nonsense.
“It is very disappointing that the people who make spurious and conspiratorial claims are not required to support their claims with any evidence. Instead it’s government who has the burden to rebut these spurious claims,” he said.
There are two specific claims Hoffman which Phiri is adamant are factually incorrect.
One is that the South African government has had “quite a lot of interactions” with Iran since the October Hamas attacks on Israel. Phiri says there was one one-day meeting between International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor and her Iranian counterparts on 22 October 2023, which had been publicly disclosed at the time.
Phiri also says it is not accurate to say, as Hoffman has claimed, that the government has had repeated interactions with Hamas since the October attacks. Rather, it was the ANC that hosted a visiting Hamas delegation in December. And it was not the ANC that had taken Israel to the ICJ, but the Republic of South Africa.
There are many who will find this rebuttal unconvincing. But one fact we should keep in mind is that South Africa’s approach to the ICJ over Israel is in keeping with its wider stance on Gaza.
In other words, we don’t need a conspiracy theory to explain why South Africa went to the ICJ. Plenty of people might not like it, but it is consistent with the government’s position on Palestine stretching back many years. DM
The hypocrisy doesn't end there either. Many blame Israel for having exclusively conducted a relationship with Apartheid South Africa when sanctions had been implemented against South Africa, but what many don't know is that Iran was conducting illicit business with South Africa simultaneously. The Iranian Air Force also flew Mirages. I know this because I used to work within the Mirage Squadron during my national service in the 1980s and saw where the aircraft parts were ordered from. France had sanctioned South Africa and prohibited the Dassault Aviation factory from supplying the South African Airforce with Mirage parts. Israel is a convenient scapegoat and I wonder how many other backroom deals were being conducted at the time.
Ben HarperFeb 9, 2024, 05:59 AM
Mirage engines and spares were brought to SA directly from France, they were shipped in containers from Le Havre on SAFMARINE container ships
Shirley ShevelFeb 4, 2024, 04:31 PM
This is an opinion piece - not a fact check. Maybe write the article again when you have the facts.
John PFeb 4, 2024, 07:21 PM
All of the comments accusing or insinuating the "Iran funded the ANC" line are at this stage libel. Maybe they did and maybe they did not but at this stage it is all speculation and rumour. Exactly what fake news is all about.
Colin BraudeFeb 9, 2024, 03:32 PM
A month before the Ezulweni matter was settled, the Supreme Court of Appeal, in denying the AN it's repudiation of the debt, described the ANC's evidence (given under oath) as "untenable … without veracity … not capable of belief …… bald, uncreditworthy denials designed to create fictitious disputes of fact."
With it out in the public domain that the ANC are a bunch of lying crooks, it is incredibly bad "optics" for the ANC not to reveal where the funding came from. Knowing them, it might well have come from Iran directly but might have been laundered through local fronts — the ANC is expert at laundering money.
The lack of investigation by the IEC, the guardian of party funding, is far more galling that Rebecca's feeble attempt at whitewash. "Factcheck" se voet!
mashishFeb 9, 2024, 06:54 PM
Apartheid genocide denialist like Rebecca are reaching
Ken ShaiFeb 13, 2024, 10:52 AM
It is a clear Israeli fabrication ANC has no or little relations with Iran but it is in Israeli interests to white wash themselves and to discredit ICJ lawsuit to claim that Iran gave money to ANC. I would not believe single word of this obvious lie!
Ken ShaiFeb 13, 2024, 02:12 PM
And take this fabrication about Iran paying ANC together with threats that our Foreign Minister Pandor and her family are receiving, she even had to ask for increased police protection, it is quite clear Israeli special services are doing both!
Ben HarperFeb 16, 2024, 07:27 AM
Hahahahaha
Colin BraudeFeb 17, 2024, 07:15 PM
The Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa on the ANC’s evidence:
[ANC v Ezulweni Investments — 24 November 2023]
… the version put up by the ANC … is utterly untenable and without veracity. The ANC’s version is not capable of belief …
The denials of the ANC fall into the category of bald, uncreditworthy denials designed to create fictitious disputes of fact.
This raised the question whether, if the ANC presents such evidence while under oath, its denials of irregular funding are worth anything.
Jacques OttoFeb 19, 2024, 12:54 PM
Yet in August 2023 South Africa and Iran entered into co operration deal for Iran to build 5 oil refineries in South Africa. This was before the Brics summit. In the same month Iran entered into Brics. Iran after Russia has the largest gas reserve in the world. Listen to the cadres deployees suggesting Gas refineries as a solution to our energy crises, all coming soon to your front door. Refineries will be set up with the connected few and play role in reselling to SOE. Creame off the top. ANC finances are now settled through donations and membership fees:)
ochre_clinkFeb 19, 2024, 02:56 PM
same level of fact checking as can be found in a Harry Potter book
francois.smApr 30, 2024, 09:19 AM
While South Africa's decision to approach the ICJ regarding Israel's actions in Gaza aligns with its long-standing support for Palestinian rights, the country's muted response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine raises questions about its commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law. As a proponent of these values, one would expect South Africa to take a strong stance against Russia's violation of Ukraine's sovereignty.
However, South Africa's inconsistent reactions likely stem from pragmatic geopolitical considerations rather than an Iranian-sponsored conspiracy against Israel. Historical ties with Russia, BRICS partnerships, non-aligned foreign policy traditions, and domestic political factors all contribute to South Africa's measured response to the Ukraine crisis.
Nevertheless, to fully uphold its democratic and rule of law principles, South Africa should be more consistent in condemning violations by any state, even long-standing allies. While navigating diplomatic relationships is complex, South Africa's credibility as a defender of international norms would be strengthened by a more principled approach. The government's strong criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is justified, but its relative silence on Russia's aggression in Ukraine undermines its commitment to universal human rights and sovereignty.
Support for South Africa's ICJ case against Israel outside the Western Cape High Court on 11 January 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa. On 29 December 2023, South Africa initiated proceedings against Israel for alleged crimes against humanity committed in Palestine. In the 84-page court application, South Africa labels Israel's attacks, which started on 7 October, as genocidal in character. (Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach) 