ANC adamant integrity commission will make final call on candidates
The African National Congress (ANC) believes the country’s electoral laws do not cover the issue of ethics and therefore its integrity commission will make a final call on the names on the party’s provincial and national lists.
The Independent Electoral Commission on Tuesday rejected the ANC’s claims that it can withdraw candidates’ nomination, saying under no circumstances could candidates be removed, unless instructed by the courts.
The IEC has dismissed all 29 objections it received to ANC party candidates.
The governing party's spokesperson, Dakota Legoete, says the lists were sent to the integrity commission following a public outcry over some of the members nominated for Parliament and provincial legislatures.
"We thought it prudent after there was an outcry in some quarters of society - NGO's, SACP, members of the ANC - including from some members of the NEC - about the eligibility of some of our candidates.
"We thought it would necessary as the ANC to refer the entire list for integrity check with the integrity commission, now that task is not covered by the law of the republic, we thought as the ANC internally we must embark on this exercise, so that we clear ourselves from any possibility of a reputational damage."
Legoete says taking the list to the commission isn't electioneering.
"Look, from January, after our national list conference we have made it clear to all that this list process once it’s completed we'll take it through an integrity check. That's the stage where we are for now. It’s not part of the election ploy, it’s a commitment we have made to all members of the ANC, to all South Africans and all institutions and so far we are on course on being loyal to our position."
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