ANC defends including controversial figures on list

THE ANC has defended its decision to include leaders who are embroiled in allegations of wrongdoing and state capture on its list of candidates for Parliament and provincial legislatures.

Yesterday was the last day for parties registered to contest the elections to submit their lists of candidates to the Independent Electoral Commission of SA (IEC).

Speaking outside IEC offices in Centurion, Tshwane, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, said the party had resolved not to remove candidates on the basis of allegations against them.

Controversial figures, including Environmental Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, Minister of Women in the Presidency Bathabile Dlamini and former mineral resources minister Mosebenzi Zwane, made the cut.

Last year, the Constitutional Court ordered the National Prosecuting Authority to investigate Dlamini for perjury for lying under oath during the social grants scandal while she was social development minister.

Former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba, who was found to have breached the Executive Ethics Code and Parliament code after he lied in court about the Fireblade Aviation case involving the Oppenheimer family, also made it on to the list.

Mokonyane has been implicated by former Bosasa chief operating officer Angelo Agrizzi before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture for allegedly receiving a monthly bribe of R50 000 and Christmas groceries.

Magashule said the party could not punish its implicated leaders on the basis of the allegations against them.

“We are talking about people who have never been charged with any crime or offence.”

The work of the national list committee was democratic and involved extensive consultation, he said.

SACP national spokesperson Alex Mashilo said the electoral law set minimum standards of values.

“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.”

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 Presidency of Monitoring and Evaluation Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Other parties also submitted their candidates’ lists yesterday.