Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Des Erasmus
Published on 2024-03-04 18:00:00
The African National Congress (ANC) is facing a challenging situation as its national executive committee (NEC) prepares to discuss its election candidates lists. The party’s veterans’ league president, Snuki Zikalala, has expressed concerns about allowing individuals implicated in state capture to stand as public officials.
Zikalala emphasized the need for the ANC to regain trust in society by ensuring that only individuals with impeccable credentials represent the party. He highlighted that the NEC had previously resolved that those implicated in state capture must report to the party’s integrity commission or face disciplinary action. However, only a few individuals have complied with this resolution, leaving others to explain their failure to do so.
The ANC Veterans’ League has been vocal about barring individuals implicated in the state capture report from standing as public representatives, despite the party’s step-aside rule, which states that members facing charges from the National Prosecuting Authority should step down. The party’s electoral committee secretary, Livhuwani Matsila, mentioned that they had not received any instructions to exclude the 97 members implicated in the state capture report from the election lists.
The issue becomes more complicated with additional corruption allegations against prominent ANC members like National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and deputy president Paul Mashatile. The allegations against them will likely be discussed during the ANC’s special NEC meeting as the deadline for submitting election candidate lists approaches.
Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has emphasized the party’s commitment to including only members with unblemished reputations on the candidate lists. He stated that those implicated in the Zondo commission report would not be included. However, the decision to include or exclude individuals implicated in state capture remains a controversial and challenging issue for the party.
As the ANC navigates through these challenges, it is crucial for the party to prioritize transparency, accountability, and ethical leadership. The decisions made regarding the inclusion of individuals implicated in corruption scandals will have significant implications for the party’s credibility and public trust. It is essential for the ANC to uphold its principles and demonstrate a commitment to fighting corruption within its ranks to rebuild trust with the South African society.
Read the original article on Mail & Guardian
