The ANC’s moral authority — the Integrity Commission (IC) — is being starved of full-time staff and is exposed to an unhealthy political environment, which is not conducive to productive work, according to the organisational report presented by Deputy President David Mabuza on Saturday.
The IC, set up in 2013 to probe matters of ethical misconduct of ANC members, is a structure that does not have any permanent staff assigned to it and only has two members from the secretary-general’s office and a volunteer.
Mabuza presented the report in a closed plenary session in the absence of the party’s suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule. It is still to be adopted by conference. Its recommendations are not binding and the National Executive Committee — the highest decision-making body of the ANC — has the final say on any outcome. Business Day is in possession of the 101-page document.
“The IC is gravely concerned by the failure of the NEC in the initial stages, to discuss the reports of the IC, as this is conducive to the processing of the work of the IC. This issue was raised with the NEC and separately with the officials on different occasions. It can be now reported that the IC reports are now a standing item on the NEC agenda,” the document noted.
Among the members who have appeared before the IC include former health minister Zweli Mkhize in 2020 over the Digital Vibes scandal. Mkhize is also contesting for the position of ANC president at the party’s 55th elective conference.
President Cyril Ramaphosa appeared twice over his alleged involvement in the theft of millions of rand at his Phala Phala farm, and who is vying for his second term as ANC president.
“The number of engagements with comrades accused of bringing the disrepute to the organisation has increased exponentially. It is noted that the IC engaged with 18 members in 2019, nine members in 2020, 16 members in 2021, 12 members in 2022 and there is the potential prospect of engaging with the 97 members cited in the Zondo Commission report who might in all likelihood have to report to the IC,” the report said.
No details of the report were mentioned before the NEC or any details given. The NEC has deferred the party's integrity commission reports to its upcoming conference.
The ANC NEC convened a special sitting last Friday to deal with all outstanding reports from the commission but failed to present its findings and recommendations on a number of issues, including that of the Phala Phala and Digital Vibes reports.
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