ANC leaders have until August to submit details of their financial interests to Luthuli House after a decision by the ANC’s national executive committee.
But on Thursday, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said the register of interests would not be made available for public scrutiny.
Shortly after the ANC’s last national conference, held in Polokwane in 2007, the ANC announced it would compile a register of interests. The register has now been through two drafts, Mantashe said, and there was “general acceptance” in the ANC about its adoption.
A deadline remains a deadline
“A deadline remains a deadline, but we have our own doubts about whether the register should be open to journalists,” Mantashe said.
When challenged about the ANC’s reluctance to disclose its register of interests, Mantashe said: “There are not going to be rules for the ANC and then rules for society.”
“We will subject ourselves to the same rules governing other parties with regard to disclosing our members’ interests. We have not heard of any other party that has declared its interests.
“We are like any other party. The fact that we win elections does not make us subject to different rules,” Mantashe said.
Mantashe was addressing a press briefing at which he released the ANC’s discussion documents ahead of its national general council (NGC) meeting in September. The NGC is a forum between its national conferences — held every five years — at which the ANC reviews its progress.
The secretary general was fielding questions about the ANC’s seventh NGC discussion document, entitled Leadership renewal, discipline and organisational culture.
He spoke of “the dangers that erode our character and values”, including “sharing the spoils of office — positions and state resources”.