By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC), Fikile Mbalula conceded the party had been infiltrated by criminal elements, including organised cartels, which are damaging to the organization.
Mbalula led a media briefing to communicate the outcomes of the National Working Committee (NWC) meeting.
“We know that our organisation has been infiltrated by criminal elements and it extends to cartels sometimes not in the knowledge of comrades who are in positions of leadership.”
This comes after damning testimony in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into the capture and malfeasance in the South African Police Services (SAPS).
Several ANC members have been implicated in the commission for interfering with the work of the police.
Mbalula also told the members of the media that he could not confirm if Brown Mogotsi and Vusumuzi Matlala are members of the ANC.
“We will never associate ourselves with characters like Brown Mogotsi. If he is a member of the ANC, he must account for his activities. The ANC will stand up against such characters who pride themselves openly and publicly on being involved in things that do not raise the name of the ANC.”
“Let every member of the ANC learn from this ordeal that we must be alert, on the lookout for comrade tsotsis. Even in the days of the struggle we had comrade tsotsis.
Mbalula also said Police Minister and NEC member Senzo Mchunu will appear before the party’s integrity commission. Mchunu is accused of having links to criminal cartels, which infiltrated the country’s criminal justice system.
Mbalula revealed that the NWC was seized with the issue of lifestyle audits of its members as it has already publicly committed to it.
He said the lifestyle audit will start with the executives, employees of state-owned enterprises as well as public servants.
He added that the process must be credible, informed by prescripts of the law so that it doesn’t degenerate into a witch-hunt and not be selective but apply to everybody across the board.
The secretary general further explained that the party is set to finalise its guidelines on the list process as it gears up to the local government elections.
The ANC is looking at turning its fortunes around with its new criteria of selecting candidates that are qualified into local government.
Mbalula says deliberations on the list process will be done at the upcoming ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled to take place this weekend.
“This NEC will deliberate and resolve on critical matters and finalise guidelines on the list process. This is the process of selecting candidates for local government elections and key questions of economic development.”
Meanwhile the party hailed its win in the by-election for Ward 10 in Greater Tshwane Region, Gauteng, as a sign of renewed trust from voters.
The party secured a clear majority with 2,214 votes, beating out the Economic Freedom Fighters, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, Democratic Alliance, and Al Jama-ah.