ANC stalwart Gigi Kodwa is one of many figures within the ruling party implicated in the state capture. (WIKUS DE WET/AFP via Getty Images)
As the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) prepares to discuss the list of election candidates, Veterans Federation president Sunuki Zikalala says that if people involved in state capture are allowed to run for public office, He said the party would be in a “difficult” position. .
When you talk to email and guardian Mr Zikalala said this week that the ANC should not allow tainted individuals or those with “Small Anyana skeletons” to stand as representatives in provincial or national parliaments.
“The biggest problem the ANC has is a lack of trust from society. If we need to regain trust in society, we need people with impeccable qualifications, people who society sees in them.” “It means you have to have people in place that you trust them when you do that and that people like that are not going to steal from the public purse,” he said.
Zikalala said the ANC's highest decision-making body, the NEC, announced in February 2023 that those involved in state capture must report to the party's integrity commission, and those who fail to do so will face disciplinary proceedings. He emphasized that it was decided that
“Only five people went to the integrity commission. The rest have to explain why they did not go to the integrity commission,” he added.
The ANC Veterans Federation has repeatedly said the party should ban those involved in the state capture report from standing as public representatives. This is contrary to the party's resignation rules, which require party members indicted by the national prosecutor's office to resign as public representatives.
In an interview with M&G ANC electoral committee secretary Libkhwani Matsira said last week that he had not received any instructions to remove the 97 members involved in the provincial capture report from the list.
“We have not been informed of any such decision, but we will meet with officials tomorrow.” [Thursday]. They will let us know if there is a decision on that,” he said.
This is despite ANC general secretary Fikile Mbalula previously saying the party leadership would act urgently to address unethical behavior and breaches of discipline by all party members.
“We are determined to include only members with impeccable reputations on our parliamentary and local council candidate lists. This does not include those allegedly implicated by the Zondo commission. ,” he said in a December 2023 statement.
Asked how the league would react if the NEC decided to add those involved in state capture to its list, Zikalala said the decision would be “very difficult”.
In addition to the 97 people named in the Zondo state capture report, many more have been accused of corruption.
Among them is National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. According to one report, she is suspected of accepting bribes totaling R2.3 million from South African Defense Force contractors during her time as head of the Ministry of Defence. sunday times report.
Another ANC figure involved in the fraud was the party's deputy leader, Paul Mashatil. Last month, Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen filed a corruption case against Mashatil, accusing him of profiting from nepotism.
Mapisa Nqakula and Mashatil are also expected to join the debate on whether they should be included on the ANC's candidate list.
Political parties have until Friday to submit lists of national and local candidates for the upcoming election. Ahead of the ANC's special NEC on Monday, Mr Mbalula told reporters at the Birchwood Hotel that the party should be ready to submit its list by the deadline.
Mr Mbalula said 284 people were interviewed during the list creation process. “In all of this, we need continuity. And from a continuity perspective, we look at the performance of those who are given the opportunity… 50% of them so that there is continuity and not starting from scratch. must be kept in the list.”
In relation to those allegedly involved in the Zondo commission, Mr Mbalula said the matter would be thoroughly discussed.
“It's better to talk about something at hand than to talk about the issue being handled. We have guidelines and principles that guide us. “The decision will be based on the guidelines and principles followed by the government,” he said.