Uncomfortable disciplinary action for ANC transgressors – Fikile Mbalula

POLOKWANE – ANC members who are found guilty of wrongdoing will be subjected to “uncomfortable disciplinary action”, party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula warned during the Peter Mokaba memorial lectured held at the stadium last Sunday.

“The organisation has taken the position, that are not going to be comfortable for you, if you are found to be on the wrong side of the law, regardless if you are friends with the SG, the president or any other highly placed official,” Mbalula remarked.

He said the party does not want thieves, as the ANC did not send its members on a mission to steal.

Mbalula said this mantra is in alignment with the organisation’s renewal discussion document that was adopted during their fifth national policy conference in 2017, which encourages the a clean-up of unethical leadership.

Termed the party’s renewal policy, the ANC is stern about the “provision of ethical leadership, fighting corruption in all its forms and speeding up service delivery”.

It also shows interest in executing the step-aside resolution, to encourage transformation from crimes committed by political administrators while holding government office.

The rule requires members charged with corruption or other serious crimes to voluntarily step aside from participation in party and government activities, or face suspension.

During the 55th national elective conference held last December, the party resolved that the renewal process should not only be an internal process, but lead to a renewal of governance, and society as a whole.

Political analyst and lecturer in politics, Thabang Dladla, however, suggests the policy has not proven to be effective and is instead, “one more public relations exercise on the part of the ruling party precisely because corruption is institutional in the organisation”.

“The Cyril Ramaphosa administration punts on anti-corruption to get likes ahead of the election.

“But after serving his first term and now with the ‘mattress scandal’ – things are beginning to appear exactly the way they are.”

TUT public affairs associate professor, Prof Ricky Mukonza agrees with the suggestion, saying the current party leadership “will make members in provinces, including those in Limpopo, look down on the renewal agenda because he has not led by example”.

“The Phala Phala saga and CR17 matters watered down the anti-corruption idea as it was already rife when he started leading in 2017.

And unfortunately, the current ANC landscape suggests that corruption will not die down anytime soon unless honest leadership is realised in that organisation and in governance,” he added.