‘Take the money, comrades’ says ANC treasurer

EASTERN Cape ANC provincial treasurer Babalo Madikizela has stuck to his guns that his supporters should take bribes, charging that there were a lot of “unorganisational exchanges” within the organisation.

Madikizela told scores of supporters on Thursday to take the money they will be given, remain focused and vote correctly.

“They will give you money, take the money, comrades, but do the right thing. You will be bribed, you will be given told said to the crowd.

The ANC in the Eastern Cape is holding its ninth provincial elective conference this week where Madikizela, provincial legislature deputy speaker Mlibo Qoboshiyane and former provincial chairperson Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane are vying for the position of chairperson.

Madikizela said yesterday they were emphatic that bribery was wrong, but it was a fact that there were a lot of “unorganisational exchanges” within the organisation.

“The basis of that is because people have been called and offered money. Some offered jobs and some even removed from the position of deployment. So there are those things that have been happening.

“We are saying people must not take money, they must report people who offer them money to the relevant authorities within the organisation so that it can be dealt with.

“But because the truth is that we know the society we live in. For instance, there are people who were our supporters, some councillors, and they were called by leadership that if you support this one, we will recall you. Some of them ended up leaving us. That is why we are saying, if they employ you, take the job, take the money, but do the right thing and vote for us,” he said.

Political analyst Sipho Seepe said that by asking his followers to take bribes, Madikizela was publicly acknowledging what has become “a common practice in the ANC”.

“ANC members are as financially desperate as the rest of the citizens in this country. They are unlikely to refuse money given to them. What Madikizela is saying is that they should take the money but not allow themselves to be bought.

“Their own president is also a beneficiary of funds that he later used for his own campaign. Why should members of the ANC behave differently?” questioned Seepe.

ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe did not respond to questions by deadline.

Mabuyane said people who know about the claims must come forward. “I don’t think we should create a spin about this conference. We know nothing about money, so people who have money can speak better on money politics and the exchanging of money.”