ANC to finalise integrity commission cases this weekend, Mbalula confirms

ANC to finalise integrity commission cases this weekend, Mbalula confirms

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that the party's national executive committee will meet this weekend to address several key issues.

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula
@MbalulaFikile

Mbalula made the statement on Monday during a wreath-laying ceremony in Johannesburg in honour of the late struggle stalwart Albertina Sisulu.


 


One of the main agenda items for the NEC meeting will be the finalisation of the terms of reference for the party's integrity commission, which serves as the ANC’s accountability body.


 


The commission will also conclude all outstanding reports, including one on Justice Minister Thembi Simelane's links to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.


 


Simelane has come under fire for a R575,000 loan she received from Gundo Wealth Solutions during her tenure as mayor of Polokwane.


 


The company’s owner, Ralliom Razwinane, has been charged with fraud, corruption, and money laundering related to facilitating connections and “investments” between municipalities, including the Polokwane Municipality and the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.


 


Simelane said the municipality never paid Gundo Wealth Solutions any money.


 


She has already appeared before the integrity commission, which will determine whether she can continue in her roles as minister and NEC member in accordance with the party’s "step aside" rule.


 


The rule compels ANC members facing allegations of wrongdoing to step down from party structures.



The commission will also finalise reports of about 90 members implicated in the Zondo State Capture Commission.




Former ministers Malusi Gigaba, David Mahlobo, and Cedric Frolick, who have been implicated in corruption scandals, are among those facing scrutiny.



Mbalula emphasised that integrity remains central to the party's renewal agenda.



"Gone are the days where the ANC will be complicit, ambiguous about the fight against corruption,” he said.



Today, many of our comrades who face challenges against the law whenever they are arrested are required by the law to step aside. Renewal is painful like that.”



"Even the people you know as your comrades and friends, but once you step in the wrong direction, of which you are required by the law of the republic, to stand in courts and prove your innocence, the ANC says those comrades must be given an opportunity to go in the court and clear their names if possible," he added.

 


Mbalula said the ANC will be strengthening the step-aside rule.



"Gone are the days when ANC members would wear T-shirts to support comrades who are facing charges. The ANC belongs to the people. The time for misbehaving is over."



The NEC will further deliberate on the state of the organisation following the recent elections.



Mbalula acknowledged that branches worked hard and campaigned.


 

However, the party still failed to garner more than 50% of the national vote.

 


“In the elections, we said we suffered a strategic setback for the first time the ANC dropped below 50%. We will examine the state of the organisation,” Mbalula said.

 


“We are not at the level we are supposed to be as the ANC. The national executive committee will take stock of this state of organisation.


 

" We will also answer the question of what needs to be done about the organisation's state. What needs to be done is to rebuild the ANC, and that is what we are going to do."



Mbalula said one of the measures would be improved political education for members and government deployees.



“We are now all going to go through political education, foundational. We must not all assume we all know where we are going. We must undergo the program of political education.



“We organise thousands and thousands of members but amongst them, we know very few will understand the pathway of the liberation struggle.”


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