The African National Congress (ANC) has changed its tack in the more than R100-million debt fiasco, with party veterans sent as emissaries to negotiate with Ezulweni Investments to hold off on its threats to liquidate the party. 

This as ANC leaders believe secretary-general Fikile Mbalula mishandled the matter and President Cyril Ramaphosa intervenes to resolve it. 

Ezulweni has revealed that a group of party elders had reached out to it with an "urgent desire and intention to intervene" and resolve the impasse. 

The events company's attorney, Shafique Sarlie, claimed the group, which had begged for Ezulweni to pause the liquidation proceedings, believed Mbalula had mishandled the matter. 

The company wants to liquidate the ANC to recover money owed to it for work done during the 2019 elections.

Sarlie said the party elders wanted to save the ANC from further embarrassment and asked for a few more days to engage with the party's leadership. 

"They have requested and beseeched Ezulweni not to commence liquidation proceedings against the ANC, fearing further reputational damage it will do to the ANC and the dire implications such proceedings will have for the ruling party."

He added the elders said this would enable them to engage with the party's leadership to resolve the matter, and should the intervention fail, they would take cession of the claim and debt owed to Ezulweni.

"It is hoped that meaningful engagements will be concluded [by 12 December] between all the interested parties, and whereafter Ezulweni will announce its further intentions and plans to recover the long outstanding debt. Meanwhile, Ezulweni will forge ahead in its vehement opposition to the application brought by the ANC at the Constitutional Court," Sarlie said.

Meanwhile, the Mail and Guardian reported that Ramaphosa had entered the fray and would try to resolve the impasse by himself. 

Two party insiders told News24 they believed Mbalula's handling of the legal process caused more harm to the ANC. 

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) rejected the ANC's assertions that the contract with Ezulweni was fraudulent.

The SCA upheld a decision of the High Court for the party to repay the company. 

Mbalula insisted Ezulweni was guilty of bribing Luthuli House staff members, and it was trying to liquidate the ANC for nefarious reasons.