Mashatile: Step-aside resolution 'not cast in stone'

The governing party's guidelines, introduced at the 2017 Nasrec conference, wants those charged with corruption and other serious crimes must voluntarily step aside from party politics.

Those alleged, reported and accused of corruption must also face the integrity committee.

But the resolution has proved tricky, with leaders challenging its merits and application at times.

The policy again came under scrutiny during the latest regional and provincial elective conferences where a handful of defamed leaders were nominated to lead party structures.

Corruption-accused Zandile Gumede was appointed as the party's new chairperson of the eThekwini region, while murder-accused Mandla Msibi was named the newly elected Mpumalanga treasurer.

In its NEC meeting at the weekend, the party moved to close the gaps in the policy.

"When we adopted these guidelines last year, we did say that this is a living document which can be enriched from time to time as there are new developments, so it's not cast in stone," said ANC Treasurer Paul Mashatile at a post-NEC media briefing at Luthuli House on Thursday.

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The amendments will prohibit leaders facing charges to accept nominations at future conferences.

"After a debate at the NEC, we then agreed that when a member has stepped aside voluntarily, he or she should not make himself or herself available to be elected in positions.

"Now we have made it explicit, if you step aside, you should not accept nominations to any position," Mashatile added.

Mashatile reaffirmed the party's intention to "protect the integrity of the ANC".

Former president of the ANC's Women's League Bathabile Dlamini faces was also a hot topic.

Dlamini was recently convicted of perjury and sentenced to jail time or a fine of R200 000.

The charges relate to her time as the Social Development minister in 2017.

"Following our engagement with comrade Bathabile, she has agreed she would present voluntarily to the integrity commission of the ANC, and she will abide by the decision that will come from that," said Mashatile.

"She has not been forced to go and appeared, she agreed herself that she is going there."

It's understood Mashatile has written to the committee, but no date has been set for Dlamini's appearance.