ANC defends Parliament candidates list
THE ANC has insisted that there was no tangible basis for removing leaders embroiled in allegations of criminality and state capture from its list of candidates for Parliament.
This despite complaints from the alliance.
Yesterday, the ANC joined other political parties who submitted the lists of candidates to represent them in the National Assembly and the nine provincial legislatures to the Electoral Commission (IEC).
President Cyril Ramaphosa topped the list, followed by Deputy President David Mabuza, with ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe, taking the third spot, followed by Minister in the Presidency for Monitoring and Evaluation, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
Speaking outside the IEC offices in Tshwane, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule said the party resolved not to remove candidates such as Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, Minister of Women in the Presidency Bathabile Dlamini and former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane, as they were not found guilty by courts. Magashule said the party could not punish them on the basis of the allegations against them.
“We have looked at what the law says. We are talking about people who have never been charged with any crime or offence. Why do you want to single out people because they are out there in the media with allegations?
“Why don’t you respect the universal principle which is applicable throughout the world.
‘‘Why do you want to deal with Nomvula, for what?” asked Magashule.
Mokonyane was implicated by former Bosasa chief operating officer, Angelo Agrizzi, before the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture, for allegedly receiving monthly bribes of R50 000 and yearly Christmas groceries, including large amounts of meat and expensive alcohol.
The SACP national spokesperson, Alex Mashilo, said while the party was consulted, it did not agree with the inclusion of some candidates.
“The SACP does not support persons who have violated the values of the revolutionary moral high ground, that our movement developed in the course of its evolution and Struggle for liberation and social emancipation.
“Our support for the ANC should therefore not be mistaken as support for those persons.
“We shall continue to push this principle to its logical conclusion at every opportunity,” Mashilo said.
Other parties, including the DA, IFP and PAC also submitted their candidates’ lists yesterday.