R500,000 to play two holes of golf with Cyril Ramaphosa

It will cost a pretty penny to play two holes of golf with President Cyril Ramaphosa, with the annual Presidential Golf Day expected to raise millions for the African National Congress (ANC).

The 2026 Presidential Golf Day is hosted by the ANC’s Progressive Business Forum (PBF) and Progressive Citizens Forum (PCF) as a fundraising event leading up to the party’s January 8 Statement, which sets out the party’s agenda for the year.

Taking place today at the Gary Player Golf Course in Sun City, North West Province, the price to golf alongside ANC officials does not come cheap.

According to the PBF’s website, it costs R500,000 for two holes with the President of the ANC.

This price includes three caddies, a golf shirt and cap, branding, four seats at the Treasurer General’s (TG) table at the prize-giving dinner, four seats at the Presidential Gala dinner, and four VIP stadium tickets.

Then there is a R150,000 package, which would get someone a round of golf with an ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member, four caddies, halfway refreshments, a golf shirt and cap, and branding at a premium hole.

It also comes with four seats at the prize-giving dinner with the NEC member, four seats at the Presidential Gala Dinner, and four VIP tickets for stadium entry.

The R100,000 silver package offers a round of golf with a Provincial Executive Committee (PEC), four caddies, and a golf shirt and cap.

It includes four seats at the prize-giving dinner with the PEC member, as well as four VIP tickets for entrance to the stadium

Then, the R20,000 package includes a round of golf, four caddies, halfway refreshments, a golf shirt and cap, and access to the prize-giving dinner.

ANC TG Gwen Ramokgopa announced today that the event was fully oversubscribed, with no further registrations or payments accepted.

The event is part of a series including a Sunset Safari, Colloquium and Exhibition, Presidential Gala Dinner, and the main January 8 rally at Moruleng Stadium.

ANC money flows

The golf day forms part of broader fundraising efforts for a party facing severe financial strain, including debts exceeding R200 million, delayed staff salaries in recent years, and legal disputes with creditors.

ANC leaders, including spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu and deputy president Paul Mashatile, have repeatedly attributed declining private donations to the Political Party Funding Act of 2018.

The Act requires disclosure of donations above a set threshold, raised to R200,000 in recent adjustments, and caps annual contributions per donor.

ANC officials argue these measures have deterred donors seeking anonymity, shifting reliance toward non-disclosable income streams like fundraising events.

Newsday previously reported how the public does not know the source of around 78% of the ANC’s private funding.

IEC reports show disclosed direct donations have fallen sharply since the Act’s implementation, with much of the ANC’s private funding now categorised as opaque “other income.”

Civil society groups like My Vote Counts maintain that the transparency rules are essential to curb undue influence.