ANC responds to Nkandla report

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said the ruling party did not intend to undermine the validity of the Public Protector’s Nkandla report, but added that the timing of its release remained a concern “in terms of the disruptive effect” it would have on all political parties in their campaigning ahead of general elections.

“[Nkandla] is a concern to the ANC because anything that brings negative publicity is a concern, especially ahead of the elections,” Mantashe said.

However, he said Nkandla wasn’t a burning issue among voters who were more concerned about housing, sanitation, electricity and jobs, but added that predictions could not be made regarding how voters would vote. He added that the party could only hope that voters continued to show support for the ANC.

Fielding questions about Zuma’s role in the Nkandla scandal, the ANC leadership defended the president, saying that he could not be involved in the security assessment which was not allowed.

ANC deputy secretary general Jesse Duarte said Zuma was concerned about the upgrades, and indicated this by firing two ministers and then asking minister Thulas Nxesi to investigate its costs.

Mantashe said the biggest problem with the cost of security upgrades at Zuma’s Nkandla home in KwaZulu-Natal was “inflation of prices”, which would be looked into.

However, he said all officials involved should be brought to book and all funds acquired inappropriately must be paid back.

But the ANC leadership said they would not make recommendations on how much was a reasonable portion of the funds to pay back, explaining Madonsela’s report was explicit that Zuma must discuss this with the relevant ministers.

Government, not the ANC, will determine what Zuma must pay, the leadership affirmed.

The ANC, however, will call on Zuma to answer questions on the Nkandla report if necessary, he added.

But the ruling party reinforced that it would not take any immediate internal disciplinary action against those officials implicated in the report, but would rather allow the processes to take its course in order to make informed decisions.

“When we censor individuals, we must do so on the merits of the process.”

He further dismissed the call for Zuma’s impeachment, saying it was a premeditated decision by opposition parties.

The ANC took no responsibility for the Nkandla scandal and would not apologise for the findings of the Nkandla report, Mantashe said.

“If there is a need for an apology, it can’t be from the ANC. If need be, it can be from the president or it may be by the relevant ministers.

“The ANC does not have a house called Nkandla. It has a house called Chief Albert Luthuli,” concluded Mantashe.