Block on party’s top list
THERE were no surprises at the top of the ANC election candidate list topped by Jacob Zuma and Cyril Ramaphosa.
But disgraced former communications minister Dina Pule made the list along with Northern Cape ANC chairman John Block who is facing multimillion rand fraud charges.
Pule, was fired from Cabinet last year after being implicated in nepotism and corruption related to her businessman partner Phosane Mngqibisa .
Block, who tops the Northern Cape list, is currently on trial for fraud and corruption with Alvin Botes, Yolanda Botha and Trifecta director Christo Scholtz. The National Prosecuting Authority alleges that Trifecta Group entered into a number of lease agreements with the Northern Cape social development department in which rental space was inflated.
ANC secretary general, Gwede Mantashe, defended Block and Pule’s addition to the lists that were submitted to the Independent Electoral Commission in Centurion yesterday.
“John Block has not been convicted. He has moved from court to court since 2003. He has no criminal record. We checked the list thoroughly and there are no people with convictions after 1994.
“Many of the people have traffic fines. They must pay. They also have outstanding debt with shops like Edgars and Woolworths. These are not serious crimes. We are still going deep and checking if there are things we missed.” Block is not the only candidate that made it to the list despite facing charges in court. Pule Mabe, who is number 53 out of 200 on the national list is currently out on R10 000 bail for theft, fraud, and money laundering charges.
On Pule, who was found guilty of lying to by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, he said: “We respect the Public Protector but she is not a court of law. There is no rule that if the Public Protector gets adverse findings against you, you cannot go to Parliament.”
Though Tony Yengeni did not make it to provincial or national lists, his wife Lumka made it to the 74th spot. Other controversial figures on the national list include former Gauteng MEC Humphrey Mmemezi at 111 and former Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale at 81. The two resigned from their posts last year amidst accusations of corruption and fraud.
Two members of the Mandela dynasty are on the list, with Mandla coming in at 63 and stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at 29. Former defence minister and current high commissioner to Mozambique Charles Nqakula also made an appearance on the list. Way down on the list was former health minister Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on number 150. She was moved from number 17 because the party wants her to complete her term as the head of the African Union.
Mantashe said: “The list has a great generational mix. It is both youthful and has people with experience.”
Some of the young leaders in the list are Malusi Gigaba (3), Fikile Mbalula (6), Zizi Kodwa (22) and Buti Manamela (28).
New entrants on the national list include ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu (27), Zuma’s international relations advisor Lindiwe Zulu (36), former Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni (41) and ANCYL national convener Mzwandile Masina (109).
The deadline for parties to submit their lists is today at 5pm.