By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has defended the ‘step aside’ rule, saying there is no selective application of the rule in the party.
The step-aside rule of the ANC is an internal policy of the ANC which requires members charged with corruption or other serious crimes voluntarily to “step aside” from participation in party and government activities, or face suspension.
The origin of the rule is in a 2015 National General Council (NGC) meeting of the ANC. The background to the introduction of the rule is that during the presidency of Jacob Zuma(2009–2018), political corruption in the ANC-led government had become an increasingly pressing issue, especially amid mounting allegations of State Capture by Zuma and his associates.
The 2015 NGC had a heated debate about the powers of the ANC’s internal Integrity Commission, and ultimately resolved to reinforce the commission’s powers to respond to allegations of corruption by ANC members.
Mbalula comments comes after criticism of the step aside rule, following the suspension of Senzo Mchunu.
President Cyril Ramaphosa put Mchunu on a special leave of absence a week ago following allegations that he’s been colluding with criminal networks and interfering in the work of the police.
The former secretary-general of the ANC, Ace Magashule has criticised his former party’s step aside rule, saying Mchunu should have been requested to step aside from his roles in the ANC and in parliament.
Magashule had always claimed that the step-aside rule is meant to purge certain individuals from the ANC. He was first requested to step aside in 2020.
“Why did people act when there were allegations against us? Why were we requested to step aside?
“It’s not just when you are arrested that you should step aside, even the guidelines of the governing party say if there are serious allegations,” he said.
Mbalula says Mchunu will only be asked to step aside from party activities if he is charged and arrested.
He was speaking on the sidelines of ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the Cape Sun Hotel, Cape Town.
ANC is assessing the structures of the party in the Western Cape.
Mbalula said there is no such thing as selective application of the step-aside rule. He said once members are arrested or appear in court, then the rule is applied.
“When last did you see people supporting each other going to court with ANC t-shirts? You get arrested, you stand on your own. Step-aside rule applies. Those who vulgarise things shamelessly will say that the rule doesn’t apply to Senzo Mchunu, but the president did put him aside, with immediate effect.
Mbalula said Ramaphosa has acted decisively against Mchunu and ordered a commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of the allegations he’s facing.
He said as an elected member of the party’s national executive, Mchunu will continue to participate in its meetings.
Mbalula also touched on how the NWC’s visit to the Western Cape structure is their fifth in a series of visits to provinces, as they seek to strengthen their organisational branches in the region.
He said that they have been receiving reports from their visits. Ramaphosa was in the Boland Region on Saturday as part of their efforts.
“All of us were in different regions (of the province). We interacted with branches that gave us reports, and we are currently processing those reports. Tomorrow (on Monday), the working committee will meet to reflect on the reports and chat on the way forward to strengthen our organisation.”
The ANC has been trying unsuccessfully to reclaim the Western Cape since 2009, when the DA first won an outright majority.