ANC vets put heat on ‘soiled’ election candidates
ALEXANDRA – ANC vets urge Ramaphosa to exclude rotten apples in cabinet.
African National Congress (ANC) party members with checkered backgrounds shouldn’t be considered for parliament, provincial legislatures and government executive jobs.
This, according to a statement by the group of ANC’s stalwarts and veterans in reference to allegations that the list of nominated candidates may have been tampered with to include tainted individuals. The group, of members with more than 40 years of unbroken service in the party said the candidates who find themselves compromised should find it within their conscience to step aside. “Candidates for ANC representation in the National Assembly and the provincial legislatures should be the women and men who we will look up to, leaders who stand out for their track records, experienced, with commitment and who must ensure that we grow our country for the benefit of all. “In accepting their nominations we urge them to carefully introspect and step aside if their nomination may be negatively perceived by the electorate if in any way they are undeserving of the confidence of the electorate,” the statement read.
The group called on President Matamela Ramaphosa, in accordance with Section 16.1.3 of the ANC’s Constitution and supported by the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee to take the following steps when vetting the candidates’ list:
- Refer the list to the party’s Integrity Commission for them to engage with those negatively affected regardless of the conclusion or not of their legal woes.
- If appropriate, urge the affected members to step aside
- Request candidates implicated negatively in different state commissions of inquiry regardless of the conclusion or not of their legal woes to step aside
- Not to consider for parliament, provincial legislature positions and ministerial positions affected individuals who don’t find it within their conscience to step aside.
For the group, this would help to save the credibility of the party in the eyes of the electorate. The party chairperson Gwede Mantashe, however, dismissed the stance at a press interview where he urged the group to be actively involved in party structures and processes for their concerns to be heard. He said the list already submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) wouldn’t change for a period of 12 months seemingly in compliance with the party rules.
In a separate press interview, the party’s deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte urged for natural justice which dictates one’s innocence until proven guilty to prevail. She said the candidates’ selection was conducted in compliance with the party’s constitutional and IEC provisions.
“Those who haven’t been found guilty by the courts of law and those who have served sentences of less than 12 months shouldn’t be rubbished.” This said in reference to the stance she inferred targetted certain candidates who she didn’t identify. Duarte confirmed that the list was submitted to the commission to assess the ethical integrity of all candidates.
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