SACP endorses call for tainted ANC candidates to scrub names from list
THE call by senior ANC figures to fellow party members facing allegations of involvement in state capture and corruption to withdraw their names from the candidates lists for the May 8 elections has been endorsed by the SACP – one of the ANC’s alliance partners.
SACP first deputy secretary Solly Mapaila said the elders’ call was in line with the resolution of the ANC’s 54th national congress resolution which asked all those implicated in corrupt acts to not stand for leadership positions.
“The ANC took a resolution on the matter. It is a principle and the ANC must ensure that its resolution is implemented. The SACP unflinchingly supports the call,” Mapaila said.
Cosatu was not available to comment. ANC acting national spokesperson Dakota Legoete did not respond to messages.
Mapaila’s reaction came after elders including Sheila Sisulu, Professor Mary Metcalfe, Murphy Morobe, Ils Fischer and various others appealed in their letter to the implicated parties, saying withdrawing their candidacy would be in the interests of those who vote and continue to vote for the ANC.
The letter read: “Our strong belief is that candidates on the ANC list should be above ethical reproach, for that is what South Africans expect of the party that played a pivotal role in ushering in democracy in South Africa.
“The overwhelming majority of these voters were not card-carrying members of the ANC. They had an appreciation of what the ANC stood for, recognised its pivotal role in the successful Struggle against the apartheid regime and had a deep respect for its leaders.”
The elders did not single out any names but said the country had heard through the Gupta leaks how members of the Gupta family befriended certain ANC leaders to obtain lucrative government tenders in stateowned entities such as Eskom; Denel; Transnet and various others.
These state enterprises became objects of massive looting by private sector companies like KPMG, McKinsey, SAP and others who were acting in collusion with individuals who enjoyed close relations with ANC leaders and government ministers.
They further wrote: “Recently, the public was treated to testimony, given under oath, of unbelievable acts of corruption perpetrated by a company previously known as Bosasa but which has since changed its name to African Global Operations.
“This company had secured government contracts and maintained them, it was reported, by bribing government officials and a slew of other decision-makers in the public service, the criminal justice system, Parliament as well as cabinet ministers and senior ANC politicians.”
According to the elders, corruption associated with ANC members was upsetting people who always held the organisation close to their hearts and voted for it.
“If some of these supporters are now reviewing their allegiance to the ANC, others appear to have already given up on it,” the letter said.