The “radical economic transformation” grouping within the ANC says the step-aside rule has been abused to fight political battles.(Gallo Images/Frikkie Kapp)
Allies of President Cyril Ramaphosa have won a battle in the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) to have those who are criminally charged denied contesting leadership positions during the party’s elective conferences.
The decision could have implications for those who have already been elected, including eThekwini chairperson Zandile Gumede and Mpumalanga provincial treasurer Mandla Msibi.
In what is said to have been a fiery NEC meeting, three sources who spoke to the Mail & Guardian said the “radical economic transformation” (RET) grouping fought hard against the proposal.
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The regulation has been in play since the ANC’s 2017 national elective conference and has affected the careers of key leaders including suspended secretary general Ace Magashule and a number of regional heavyweights. Critics say it has been abused to fight political battles.
At Monday’s NEC meeting, the officials issued a proposal that those who have been affected by the step-aside resolution should not contest elections at ANC regional, provincial and national conferences.
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was one of the louder voices who spoke against the amendment, according to one NEC member, who added that “we have made amendments but it was war”.
Dlamini-Zuma was the preferred candidate of those aligned to the RET grouping at the 2017 conference.
“She argued that we are changing the policy midstream and that we must be consistent. She didn’t support the proposal of the officials,” one source said.
Another NEC member aligned with Ramaphosa said the NEC was aware that people would want to challenge its decision on the step-aside ruling in the courts but added that it was a “risk we are willing to take”.
“It is the image of the ANC that is on the line. The ANC can no longer pussyfoot around corruption, so people who are contesting while they are charged are making a mockery of the fight against corruption. We accept that there was a loophole but we are correcting the loophole so that our fight against corruption will be genuine.”
A third NEC member, who is from KwaZulu-Natal, is said to have argued that the ANC’s image was taking a knock after Gumede was elected.
The NEC member said that with the flooding disaster in KwaZulu-Natal, people “are sceptical that money released by the government for relief efforts will [not] go to the hands of corrupt officials. It was clearly emphasised that we need to do more to be seen as fighting corruption.”
The NEC’s decision comes after it called for party officials to seek legal advice on whether those charged with serious crimes can contest party elections.
Party heavyweight and Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo, who is said to be destined for a top-six position, had also made it clear he would support a decision to exclude those affected by the step-aside rule from contesting for posts.
Msibi hadd to immediately step aside from his position because he faces a double murder charge.
“My personal view is that you are elected to serve, you are not elected to step aside. Why should you be elected and then step aside? What is the purpose, really?” Masondo said.
“Logically, I don’t think if you are going to step aside you should serve in the political leadership of the ANC. They shouldn’t contest. They should say, ‘No, I can’t because after this I’m going to be stepping aside, therefore, I won’t be fulfilling my responsibility as a leader’.”
The NEC’s decision comes after the Mail & Guardian reported that regional leaders were lobbying branches to have the step-aside rule reviewed at its national conference in December.
One provincial leader who earlier spoke to the M&G said the resolution was implemented in a selective manner, adding that the law gives every individual a right to be deemed innocent until proven guilty.
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