By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has granted the NEC member and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s request for special leave from party activities.
The decision was confirmed by ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula during the media briefing on the outcomes of the National Working Committee (NWC).
Mchunu serves on the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC).
The decision follows Mchunu’s testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee probing corruption allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
He has been at the centre of allegations of corruption and political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS), particularly over his directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
“The National Working Committee has recommended that Comrade Senzo Mchunu’s request for special leave from the activities of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and the National Working Committee be granted, “Mbalula said.
He added that the ANC’s “Guidelines and Procedures on the Implementation of the National Conference Resolutions on Credibility and Integrity,” adopted by the NEC in February 2021 and amended in April 2022, govern such matters.
“Paragraph 3.1.1 provides that a member, office-bearer or public representative who has been indicted to appear in a court of law on a charge of corruption or other serious crimes must immediately step aside pending the finalisation of their case, “Mbalula said.
He clarified that Mchunu has not been indicted on any corruption or serious criminal charges.
In addition, Mchunu has been placed on special leave from his position as police minister.
Mbalula also said the party’s National General Council (NGC) will not be used for a leadership shake-up, if any.
The 5th National General Council (NGC) is scheduled to take place from December 8 to 12, 2025, at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Gauteng.
The NGC is a mid-term review event where approximately 1,600 delegates will assess implementation of policies and resolutions adopted at last National Conference and propose new recommendations for deliberation at the next conference.
The theme for the 2025 NGC is “The Year of Renewal: Making the ANC a More Effective Instrument of the People to Achieve the Vision of the Freedom Charter
He was making reference to speculation that president Cyril Ramaphosa may resign before the elective conference.
Mbalula said, “We’ve been scanning the media environment, and we actually are baffled at the idea that the president may resign anytime soon.”
“Mbalula went as far as to say there is “nothing stopping Ramaphosa from running for a third term.”
Both Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma were removed as ANC president during their second terms in office.
These removals took place at the 2007 Polokwane elective conference and at the 2017 Nasrec elective conference, respectively.
Data collected by the Social Research Foundation in April indicates that, if Ramaphosa were removed as president, support for the ANC would dwindle to just above 20%, making it the second largest party, behind the DA.
Meanwhile the former ambassador to the US and former Western Cape premier, Ebrahim Rasool, has declined the ANC’s request to serve as convener of its newly appointed provincial task team (PTT).
Rasool’s decision was revealed on Monday evening during a special meeting of the PTT.
Fullview learnt that the former US ambassador had formally written to the ANC’s national structures to inform them of his decision not to take up the position.