ANC heavyweight David Makhura briefs the media in Johannesburg yesterday about reports on the national democratic revolution, the balance of forces and organisational renewal. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen If the ANC Veterans League has its way, all indicted ANC public representatives, including Cabinet ministers, will have to step aside from their offices to address their issues away from the public eye. If this proposal under discussion at one of the national general council (NGC) commissions is adopted, it would mark a new twist in the ANC disciplinary process, which has been criticised for selective application.
Although the party has a record number of members who have stepped aside, many have escaped the noose and continue with business as usual in their state jobs, as if nothing happened. The league, chaired by Snuki Zikalala, is pushing for the stepaside rule to be strengthened with strict provisions that would ensure those charged with criminal misconduct step aside from their offices and wait for their trials outside the party and their government roles. Party veterans have been credited with directing the ANC to implement changes, especially on matters of discipline, as they believe the party has to be restored to its former glory as a movement with strong leaders.
In an interview withThe Citizenon the sidelines of the ANC’s NGC hours before its closure, ANC political education head David Makhura confirmed the matter was being discussed, but there was no finality yet. “The fact is, why should you be representing the ANC in government if you step aside from ANC activities?” Makhura said. Zikalala raised the issue at the NGC, saying those on the stepaside list should also step aside from their state duties.
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The rule was passed in 2020 by the party’s top brass to deal with criminality in the ANC. There have been questions about the effectiveness of the step-aside rule.
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