By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has commended his party’s performance in all by-elections, after winning 14 out of the 18 wards.
Mbalula was speaking at a briefing a short while ago, which also touched on wide-ranging issues affecting the country
ANC emerged as the leading party in Thabazimbi, winning 39.65% of the votes, and securing 10 council seats, but it fell short of the 12 seats required to govern independently.
The by-elections, held after the municipality was dissolved, saw all 12 wards being contested.
The by-election was one of the most contested in recent years, with 400 candidates from 21 parties and five independents vying for seats. The ANC, DA, EFF and MK Party each fielded candidates in all 12 wards, underscoring the high stakes.
The ANC also won the most-populous voting district, Khulubone Primary School, by 92 votes in Kwazulu-Natal.In Wolmaransstad the ANC beat the DA by 152 votes.
Integrity Commission
Mbalula said Thembi Simelane had not been formally charged or found guilty by any oversight body, including chapter 9 institutions such as the public protector.
“At the present moment, the minister is not charged and has not been found guilty by any of the institutions,” he said.
“There has not been any precedent before where a person who is not charged, but implicated, in one or two things while serving as a minister has been forced by the rule to step aside.”
Simelane is accused of receiving a R500 000 “loan” from Gundo Wealth Solutions, which facilitated unlawful investments by the Polokwane local municipality in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank in 2016, while she was mayor of the city.
She is also at the centre of a series of investigations by News24/Daily Maverick after she was accused of living far beyond her means during her time as mayor of Polokwane.
Simelane has not been criminally charged but has been invited to the party’s integrity committee to explain herself after the allegations.
Mbalula said he needed to be given the integrity commission’s report on the former justice minister before he could consider what action to take.
The ANC’s step-aside rule requires members facing formal criminal charges to relinquish their positions temporarily. Mbalula said the rule only applied when formal legal action had been taken.
“Should the outcome of those processes give us any recommendation, necessary steps will be taken by the ANC,” he said.
Simelane’s continued presence in government has drawn criticism from civil society organisations and ANC members, including its veterans.
Concerns escalated following her reassignment to another ministerial department, despite allegations of irregularities.
Simelane was the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.
However, she has since swapped roles with Mmamoloko Kubayi who was the minister of Human Settlements.
Spaza Shops
Mbalula revealed that 45% of the registration applications received so far were from KwaZulu-Natal. Of the shops that have been shut down, 93% were foreign-owned.
However, Mbalula said the government is exploring legislation to reserve small businesses, such as spaza shops, exclusively for South Africans.
“We have mandated our government, going forward, that we must preserve spaza shops and small businesses for South Africans. Government must explore in terms of the law of the country that this is implemented within a reasonable space of time,” said Mbalula.
The Departments of Small Business Development and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition are going to launch a fund to support South African-owned shops.
The two departments have set aside about R500 million for the fund.
Mbalula further warned immigrants and South Africans against colluding to register spaza shops, saying they would face the consequences.
“We know that South Africans have aided criminal activities of illegal foreign nationals and give them cover,” said Mbalula.
While the application for registration is open to everyone, it is only the first step.
After 21 days, the government will assess whether applicants meet all the requirements. Those who fail to meet the criteria will not be able to register their businesses.