Lack of ANC response to graft allegations ‘may swing voters’

The ANC’s response, or lack thereof, to the damning allegations by Angelo Agrizzi could alienate a large mass of voters ahead of the upcoming elections, according to a leading political analyst.

According to Wits University School of Governance professor Ivor Sarakinsky, the unconvincing, poor and ambivalent message by the governing party’s spin doctors in response to damning revelations of widespread corruption implicating high-ranking ANC leaders at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture, is likely to alienate a number of voters.

Sarakinsky was commenting amid the fresh evidence presented before the commission by Bosasa former chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi, who has lifted the veil on how ANC heavyweight Nomvula Mokonyane, MP Vincent Smith and former Umkhonto we Sizwe cadre Linda Mti were among several individuals who benefitted handsomely from the facilities management company’s bribery-for-tender scandal.

Last year the commission heard evidence implicating ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe, deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte, national executive committee members Enoch Godongwana and Mosebenzi Zwane as having played a key role in putting pressure on South Africa’s major banks to reopen business accounts belonging to the infamous Gupta family – whose corrupt activities are now rivalled by Bosasa.

“While it is difficult to predict the numbers of voters that will swing away from the ANC due to these revelations, we have seen how voters have withheld their votes in previous elections, in protest against this kind of conduct in the ANC,” said Sarakinsky.

“However, the ANC will not lose these elections, because of a very weak and incompetent opposition challenging it for power.

“The opposition just don’t know how to take advantage of the current situation to score points and swing votes.”

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