Party Members Who are Formally Charged Must Step Down, Says ANC

Members of the ANC who are formally charged with corruption or other crimes must immediately step down from their positions, the ANC said today in a statement summing up the decisions of its highest body over the weekend.

The meeting also drew attention to “what seemed like an choreographed campaign” against President Cyril Ramaphosa, and said this would not distract the ANC in its fight against corruption.

The ANC has recently come under the spotlight for reinstating members who have been charged with corruption, such as the former mayor of eThekwini, Zandele Gumede, already charged in a massive solid waste tender. In 2018 Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Andile Lungisa was found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm when he hit a DA councillor with a jug. He still serves on the council.

The ANC national executive council said “cadres” who were formally charged for corruption or other crimes must immediately step away from positions of leadership in the ANC, legislatures or other government structures, pending the outcome of their cases. Those who did not do so would be instructed to. Members already convicted of a crime must resign and face ANC disciplinary measures.

Those who are “reported to be involved” in corrupt dealings – such as two members recently reinstated after being implicated in the VBS scandal in Limpopo – have to appear before the ANC’s integrity commission with explanations that were deemed acceptable.

The ANC NEC endorsed the contents of a hardhitting letter against corruption that Ramaphosa wrote on 23 August, in which he labelled the ANC “accused number one” in corruption in South Africa.

The NEC skirted the issue – another hot potato for the party – of members or the family doing business with the government and public entities. It said it would look into the matter, but that “due regard” should be paid to every person’s right to do business if it was done on a fair basis.