The ANC has asked its members – some of whom are implicated in state capture – for proposals on how corruption can be rooted out from within as they gather for the policy conference this weekend.
This is the party’s political response to the damning findings of the commission of inquiry into state capture by chief justice Raymond Zondo, whose final report was released last month.
On Wednesday, the party released its guidelines for discussion on state capture and corruption requesting delegates to the conference to propose solutions on how to tackle corruption within the party, government and society.
This came as the party also revealed that a task team, set up to consider and advise it on how to respond to recommendations made by the commission of inquiry, had identified 200 names of its members implicated in the report. It was not immediately clear if those identified would be barred from taking part in the discussions.
The party said it was verifying that all those implicated were still ANC members, adding they will be given two months to present themselves before the integrity commission.
“So I suppose therefore at the time when we have identified all those and indicated it to the secretary-general’s office and the integrity commission, the two months will start,” said ANC head of policy Jeff Radebe.
In its diagnostic document on state capture and corruption meant to serve as a guide for discussion and engagement at the conference, the ANC said it was conceivable that most members of institutions where corruption took place would be unaware.
This was because, the party said, of the covert nature of corruption activities.
The party said it was necessary to consider this in addressing the issue of whether the organisation, through action or inaction, enabled the commission of these activities. The party also argued that its ability to act on allegations of malfeasance relies not only on its formal rules and procedures but also on the balance of power within its structures.
It admitted that findings of the state capture inquiry have a bearing on its policies and practices, and therefore called for a seismic shift in the ANC’s approach to several issues raised by the commission.
The party said it needs to develop an appropriate response and plan of action to address those criticisms that it considered to have merit.
Rather than be defensive, the ANC called on its members to see the criticism as an opportunity to reflect on its conduct, policies and practices.
The party acknowledged that it could and should have done more to prevent the abuse of power and the misappropriation of resources that defined the era of state capture.
However, party members are fundamentally divided on the phenomenon of state capture and it remains to be seen if they can move on any of the recommendations.
Some ANC members have gone as far as dismissing the idea that there was a period of state capture in SA.
According to the party, in recognition of the erosion of its organisational integrity, it has embarked on a process of renewal and rebuilding.
The party also admitted that the rate of progress of the renewal process is determined not only by political will and capacity but also the existence of vested interests and resistance from those who have much to lose from measures adopted in its previous elective conference.
One of the renewal measures is the so called step-aside rule which is facing a growing revolt as several provinces want it scrapped.
The rule forbids party members who are criminally charged from holding leadership positions until they have cleared their names.
Provinces such as Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal have called for the rule to be scrapped.
Limpopo provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe said the party's renewal project could not only be centred on the step-aside rule.
“We’re not in conflict with the national guidelines but we feel on the issue of renewal it can't solely be dependent on step-aside to be achieved because there are a number of other areas where structures of the ANC are missing, such as the misbehaviour of members, fraud and maladministration,” he said.
ANC Eastern Cape provincial secretary Lulalama Ngcukayitobi said: “The ANC in the Eastern Cape will ensure that it lobbies for the strengthening of the resolutions on matters of integrity as part of restoring the integrity and image of our movement, which is a crucial aspect of the process of renewal.”
The ANC said party members implicated by the state capture report must face full legal consequences of their actions and that they cannot rely on the ANC for support or protection nor appeal to the principle of collective responsibility.
nkosin@sowetan.co.za
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