By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former ANC Women’s League leader Bathabile Dlamini is not eligible to contest for a position in the ANC national executive committee (NEC).
In a letter leaked to the media, Dlamini was informed that vetting processes show she’s been found guilty of a serious crime with a prison sentence of more than six months.
Dlamini – who’s also a member of the national working committee – was found guilty of perjury and avoided a four-year jail term after paying R200 000 fine for lying under oath while testifying during an inquiry instituted by the constitutional court in 2018 into a social grant payments scandal involving the South African Social Security Agency.
Retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe presided over this inquiry. The case against Dlamini, who was social development minister at the time of the scandal, will continue in March.
The party reminded Dlamini that those found guilty and charged with unethical or immoral conduct – along with serious crimes of corruption that resulted in a sentence longer than six months – are not eligible for leadership positions.
Dlamini received 856 nominations to return to the NEC when the party heads to a conference next week.
The former minister tweeted on Thursday what appeared to be accusations that she was being “told stories regarding her nomination”.
Nazoke the fight is on you are in the list second time and you are told stories after the process is complete pic.twitter.com/rJXKWgeOY1
— Bathabile Dlamini (@sbahlesonke0) December 8, 2022
Several former key ANC leaders did not make it to the nomination list, either because they declined the nomination or did not meet the qualifying numbers.
Some former NEC members who did not make the list include Tony Yengeni, Pravin Gordhan and Derek Hanekom. The latter indicated he had declined the nomination.
The ANC elective conference starts on 16 December and fierce lobbying for positions is expected to continue ahead of the conference.