By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
ANC treasurer general, Paul Mashatile, refused to give clarity on what president Cyril Ramaphosa finally said when he opened up to the NEC on what really happened at his Phala Phala farm.
Addressing the media on the outcomes of the NEC meeting, Mashatile said what Ramaphosa told the national leadership was “confidential”.
“He was briefing just the ANC. The rest of what we want to know will come when the reports are ready,” he said.
“I think, for now, let’s respect that confidentiality,” he said in reply to a question.
Ramaphosa spoke about Phala Phala farm during his opening speech on Friday and said the stolen money was proceeds of a legitimate business transaction.
His utterances did not stop his detractors from calling on him to step aside.
Mashatile said the NEC received a report on work done by the Integrity Committee but it had nothing to do with Phala Phala.
“It was a report of the Integrity Committee on other matters and that report was tabled and noted by the NEC,” he said.
Mashatile said the Integrity Committee was still working on the report related to Phala Phala.
“They have not sent a report to us except that a draft report was leaked in the media but there is no report that has come to the ANC because they are not ready yet.”
The Phala Phala report is now expected to be tabled before a special NEC meeting that will be called before the party’s 16 December national elective conference.
Mashatile also said the NEC welcomed the report from the conference preparation committee for the party’s 55th national elective conference.
The NEC thanked thousands of members who gathered in branch general meetings to reflect on various matters, including the election of delegates to the conference and nomination of candidates for the NEC.
It also welcomed meetings held by the veterans league and women and youth leagues to nominate candidates.
There are a few disputes relating to the branch general meetings recorded and the ANC and provincial and national dispute resolutions committees are processing those disputes,” he said.
Mashatile also said “this landmark national conference” will be attended by more than 4 500 voting delegates, the NEC, leagues and provincial executive committees.
He noted that the national conference came at a period when the country and the ANC faced severe challenges in a global time of uncertainty.
Mashatile added that the cash-strapped party plans to get rid of assets to pay off its debt.
The treasurer-general said the ANC will sell some of its assets, particularly those in other countries, in order for the governing party to fund the payment of R500 million in arrears.
We have a very comprehensive approach in dealing with our assets as we know the ANC was in exile for so many years. We took a decision that we should look at the state of some of those assets in the country and we will put all our properties in one company,” he said.
“However, there are properties in other countries that we feel we will not use anymore and those will be sold off. There are assets that are of historic and political value to the ANC like our headquarters in Lusaka and London.”
Mashatile also confirmed that the ANC has tabled its proposal on the possible amendment of Political Party Funding Act (PPFA).
Meanwhile, NEC member Ronald Lamola said they would today publish the amendments that will be considered during the conference.
These include creation of the position of second deputy secretary-general and incorporating the step-aside rule in the party’ s constitution.
“Amendments have to pass by a two thirds majority at the conference,” Lamola said.