The ANC is facing eviction from its Sahara House offices after the building's owners served a notice of demand on the party for outstanding rent.
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Cape Town - The ANC in the Western Cape is facing eviction from its Sahara House offices on the Foreshore after the building’s owners, the billionaire Gupta family, served a notice of demand on the party for outstanding rent.
Weekend Argus understands that if the ANC does not pay the three years’ back rent owing, within the next two weeks, they will be forced to vacate the seventh floor offices.
The ANC leadership in the Western Cape, elected in February last year, has been battling with bad debt left by their predecessors.
In recent months, the party has had its office furniture attached by the Sheriff of the Court, and its phone lines cut for non-payment.
The party’s biggest outstanding debt is for about R1.8 million owed to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, after the party held its provincial elective conference at the centre in February last year.
And the party’s financial woes continue to escalate, with the latest thorn in its side the Gupta family, which has close ties with President Jacob Zuma.
It’s understood that the rent at Sahara House has not been paid for three years.
Insiders say the Western Cape ANC received a letter demanding rent payments dating back to 2009, about a fortnight ago.
“The letter was addressed to former ANC Western Cape leader Mcebisi Skwatsha, who was still in charge of the ANC affairs in 2009,” the source said.
The letter of demand, dated October 18, also says that if the ANC fails to comply, they must move out within 30 days.
ANC provincial treasurer Fezile Calana acknowledged receipt of the letter, and said the issue was being dealt with “together with the national office”.
Calana would not be drawn on how much money was owed,
saying only that the party was dealing with the matter internally.
However, senior party members have questioned the timing of the move, saying it appears to be connected to the national leadership race, and the fact that several ANC members on the provincial executive committee are supporting a leadership change.
“This is just too bizarre. Why threaten to kick out the ANC now, this is all about Mangaung,” a senior member said.
When Weekend Argus contacted the lawyers acting on behalf of the building’s owners, Johan Schalkwyk said he was waiting for instructions from his client, Islandsite Investments One Hundred and Eighty.
A deed search revealed that the company has four active directors, including Atul Kumar Gupta, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Chetali Gupta and Arti Gupta.
Atul Gupta is said to be close to Zuma.
E-mails to the Gupta’s Sahara Holdings went unanswered.
Weekend Argus