Johannesburg - The ANC appears to be tightening the noose on its ability to deal with some of its rogue members – including senior government officials – accused of acts of corruption, fraud and theft.
In its effort to save its reputation, the ruling party has given its integrity commission, under the leadership of Struggle veteran and former Robben Islander Andrew Mlangeni, more powers to fire wayward elements within its ranks.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe announced these changes in the ANC’s internal operations at a media briefing in Joburg on Monday following the party’s ordinary three-day national executive committee (NEC) meeting at the weekend.
In the past, the ANC’s integrity commission was empowered only to make recommendations about possible punitive actions. The final powers rested with the ANC’s national working committee and later the NEC.
Mantashe admitted that this long process affected the reputation and image of the ANC, particularly after numerous media reports implicating senior ANC officials holding senior government positions.
“Corruption, (perceived or real), factionalism, political ill-discipline and the use of money to subvert internal democratic processes were identified as posing a very serious and real danger to the unity and cohesion of the ANC,” he said.
Mantashe said the NEC had decided that the integrity commission must directly communicate its decision to ANC president Jacob Zuma and his executive for them to implement it immediately and “avoid the current long processes”.
Despite promising to be tough on corruption, Mantashe politely avoided answering questions about the future of ANC Northern Cape chairman and Finance MEC John Block and MEC for Co-operative Governance and Human Settlements Elvin Botes, who are facing corruption charges in the Kimberley High Court.
The charges against them involve the alleged illegal sale of government buildings.
Block is also due to appear next month in the Kimberley Regional Court on another charge of fraud and corruption along with senior officials of the local Sol Plaatje Municipality. The case involves the alleged supply of water purification equipment to the municipality.
He is also due in court in February for his alleged role in improperly awarding a tender to Uruguayan-born Gustav Savoi – owner of Intaka, a company that allegedly supplied oxygen tankers to the Northern Cape provincial government at inflated prices.
The charges against Block and Savoi, as well as eight other accused, also involved the alleged supply of water purification equipment worth R42 million for the Northern Cape Health Department.
This case has been on the court roll since 2011, but prosecution was delayed after Savoi challenged the legality of the charges against him.
Savoi faced similar allegations involving ANC officials in KwaZulu-Natal. He made the legal challenge in the Durban High Court.
The Kimberley High Court provisionally ruled that the final ruling in the matter would have a bearing on the case before it. The court provisionally postponed the matter to February.
ANC NEC member and former ANC Youth League treasurer Pule Mabe also initially featured on the list of tainted members, but he has since been acquitted on a charge of fraud.
While Mantashe made no mention or gave no directions on the future of these leaders, he said: “Members of the ANC implicated in wrongdoing are expected to consider the implications of the allegations against them on the reputation and integrity of the ANC.”
The Star