ANC orders lifestyle audits

THE ANC is to appoint independent agencies to conduct random lifestyle audits on leaders, as well as on members deployed in senior positions in government and state-owned entities, including the troubled SAA and SABC.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe announced these measures yesterday, following the governing party’s national executive committee meeting at the weekend.

“Discipline within the ANC must stringently (be) enforced at all levels and the values of the ANC must be discernible in all members in statement and conduct.

“Self-serving and careerist politicians must be discouraged from our ranks and those who use the ANC for selfish gain acted against,” Mantashe said at Luthuli House.

“Accordingly, the NEC has called for the introduction of ad hoc lifestyle audits for political leaders and public servants.

‘‘The NEC has also directed that all allegations of corruption must be responded to and clarified as soon as they arise.”

The call came as several high-ranking ANC members are already facing criminal and civil charges in different courts in the country.

Gauteng ANC chief whip Brian Hlongwa has yet to answer to allegations of improperly giving his friends millions worth of government tenders while MEC for Health.

In the Northern Cape, former ANC chairperson John Block is due to be sentenced in December following his conviction on corruption worth millions of rand.

Former minister of transport S’bu Ndebele is also facing a charge of corruption worth R10 million in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria.

Mantashe said the modalities of such audits would be communicated to the public. He said those lifestyle audits would be done randomly and the ANC intended to appoint agencies which specialised in such work.

“The NEC appreciates and is humbled by the fact that despite a reduced majority and the loss of key metros, the ANC remains the hope of the majority of South Africans and continues to enjoy popular support across the country.

“Disunity, factionalism and corruption have, however, created a trust deficit between the people and the ANC – leading to a loss of confidence by the people in their movement,’’ added Mantashe.

The lifestyle audits would enable the ANC to act faster to create jobs, fight crime and deal decisively with corruption, which were “the greatest concerns facing our people”.

Mantashe said the ANC should be bold in responding to the problems rather than be in denial, which would only risk deepening the crisis.

The ANC has also resolved to remove all councillors who were made councillors improperly, despite fierce opposition from its branches. Mantashe said the NEC received a report from its national working committee which identified a manipulation of lists, which they would bring an end to.

He said this would be done through extensive consultations.