The ANC NEC Has Given Members Facing Criminal Charges The Choice To Voluntary Step Down Or Face Suspension.


By Phumzile Mavimbela

Following the African National Congress's  (ANC) extended National Executive Committee (NEC)  meeting which was concluded on Monday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa has given both senior and provincial leaders who are facing criminal charges the choice to voluntary step down from the positions they occupy within 30 days. Failure to do so, he said the leaders stand to face suspension from the party in terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC's  Constitution. Furthermore, the President has also instructed the office of the Secretary-General of the ANC Ace Magashule, who is also facing criminal charges, to communicate this message to all the affected members of the party. 

In a statement  Ramaphosa said : 
“The NEC resolved that these resolutions must be implemented in line with the guidelines and procedures adopted by the NEC at its meeting on 13-14 February 2021.

“All members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes must step aside within 30 days, failing which they should be suspended in terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC Constitution.

“The meeting emphasised that the 30 day period will be to enable the implementation of the decision in line with the guidelines, not to review the decision,”

He also added that the NEC also agreed that the provincial chairpersons and secretaries would meet with the national officials during that time to further refine the guidelines to ensure the resolution could be  effectively and practically implemented. 

“The Secretary General’s Office will work with the provinces to identify all people affected and inform them of the decision. The NEC welcomed the decision by the ANC Secretary-General Cde Ace Magashule to use this time to seek the counsel of past leaders of our movement.

“The NEC called on all ANC members to rally around this decision and not to engage in any acts of indiscipline, including through mobilisation or public statements that undermine implementation of the conference resolutions,” Said Ramaphosa

The party’s NEC also vowed to act against those within its ranks calling themselves radical economic transformation (RET) forces saying: “The NEC, therefore, condemned the establishment of groups operating as an organised faction within the ANC to undermine the ideological and organisational integrity of the ANC.” 

“The NEC warned those who wish to subvert the ANC by seeking to create diversions that we will not tolerate meddling in the internal affairs of the ANC or the use of ANC resources to undertake counter-revolutionary activities from within its structures and facilities.

“The meeting agreed that no ANC member should associate themselves with or be involved in the so-called ‘RET Forces’. Furthermore, the NEC will not allow will not allow any member of the ANC staff to use the resources and premises of the ANC to hold meetings of the RET or any other faction.

“In terms of Rule 25.9 of the ANC Constitution on ‘Institution of disciplinary proceedings’, the NEC directs the Presenter of the ANC to investigate these matters and, if deemed necessary, immediately formulate charges for the attention of the National Disciplinary Committee,” Ramaphosa said.

Ramapholsa concluded by adding that the NEC has also noted the re-emergence of an orchestrated campaign of “fake news” directed against him and other leaders of the ANC – akin to the disinformation campaign South Africa experienced during the height of state capture. 

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