ANC will deal with corrupt officials

Corrupt African National Congress officials, even at municipal level, will be held accountable, President Jacob Zuma said on Saturday.

“At the municipal level, in the next five years, we will ensure that all ANC councillors abide by the ANC’s code of conduct. The ANC will prevent municipal officials and councillors and their immediate family members from doing business with municipalities,” Zuma said at the launch of the ANC’s August 3 local government elections manifesto at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

“The ANC will ensure the implementation of recommendations emanating from forensic investigations conducted in municipalities. The ANC will hold corrupt municipal officials and councillors liable for the losses incurred by the municipality as a result of their corrupt actions.”

Zuma said that under the ANC-led government great strides had been made in fighting crime and corruption.

“Progress is being made in the fight against crime and corruption. A total of 234 government officials were arrested, tried, and convicted for corruption-related offences since 2014,” he said.

“Orders were obtained to freeze assets gained through wrongful means to the value of R601 million during the 2015/2016 financial year. Government has recovered a total of R4 billion since 2009. The anti-fraud and anti-corruption programmes continue.”

Numerous seats were empty in the stadium as Zuma delivered his speech. Earlier, ANC national chairwoman Baleka Mbete said the blazing sun had caused ANC supporters to shun sections of the stadium. These sections remained empty even as Zuma delivered his speech after 1pm.

“The people that have entered and have been recorded are more than 42,000. There are many people here. There are many buses that have arrived. Ten buses. Some taxis have gone to the townships to fetch more people who are coming to join us,” Mbete said to loud cheers by the ANC faithful.

But the numerous seats remained unoccupied throughout Zuma’s address. On Friday, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said the launch would be a “grand event” with the 46,000-seat stadium and overflow areas filled to the brim.

“Since the beginning of the week, supporters, members, and leaders of the ANC have been involved in an intensive mobilisation campaign, talking to our people and encouraging them to be part of the 100,000 people-strong contingent expected at the stadium on Saturday,” said Mantashe.

“In our interaction with people, they continue to demonstrate their utmost confidence in the ANC, while acknowledging weakness and challenges in some areas. If we continue at the pace we have started, I’m sure we will gain some few wards that we didn’t control after the 2011 elections,” he said.

(File photo: Gallo Images)