Ramokgopa says the ANC watching ‘farmgate’ scandal closely
|Published
Gauteng Health MEC Dr Gwen Ramokgopa. Picture: Thobile Mathonsi/African News Agency (ANA)
NTOMBI NKOSI
The ANC postponed its nomination processes towards the 55th national elective conference which was supposed to start yesterday, saying this was in order to give space to the audit team to finalise audit processes.
The elective conference is scheduled to start on December 16.
The party had invited the media for an engagement that was scheduled to be led by treasurer-general and acting secretary-general Paul Mashatile.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said the National Executive Committee (NEC) was expected to convene in a special session this Sunday to adopt the final membership audit to finally pave the way for the start of the nomination processes in accordance with the newly approved ANC Electoral Guidelines.
“The audit team is due to finalise processes and do all reconciliation because now there have been renewals, and they could effectively lead to the number of branches in other provinces being higher or lower depending on whether those renewals affected their membership status,” said Mabe.
He added that Mashatile would receive the report by Friday for processing and finality.
“This is what the special NEC does, it must adopt the final audited membership. By the time we leave the special NEC on Sunday we will have an appreciation of the draft credentials of the national conference, because this will give us the numbers of those we are likely to expect,” Mabe said.
The party’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, is eyeing a second term despite the dark cloud over his head in the form of the Phala Phala corruption and money laundering allegations.
The EFF said Ramaphosa had confirmed to the public protector that he knew about illicit money valued at $580 000 (R8 million) being kept for 45 days on his farm before it was stolen.
ANC party members have been debating the party’s step-aside resolution, which states that if a member is being criminally investigated, they should not participate in or avail themselves for party positions.
Asked in an interview with a broadcaster whether or not the step-aside resolution might affect Ramaphosa’s candidature for the national conference, the co-ordinator in the office of ANC secretary-general, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, said the rule would affect anyone who, in accordance with their constitution, had to step aside.
“We are watching the Phala Phala issue, we are concerned that it is taking too long to be resolved one way or the other, but the president himself has said because he stands for ethical leadership, he will avail himself to comply with the constitution. Should he be faced with having to step aside, he will. At this point in time we are watching the space and we really hope that there is nothing that will get to that level, not only for the president, but for any leader in the ANC,” Ramokgopa said.
The PEC in Limpopo said it endorsed Ramaphosa to have a second term, and wanted Mashatile to be his deputy and provincial chairperson Stanley Mathabatha to be the chairperson.