Africa-Press – South-Africa. The primary mandate for the ANC’s integrity commission, appointed four months ago, is to arrest the decline in the calibre of ANC members.
This according to the new commission chairperson, ANC stalwart Frank Chikane.
He was addressing the media at his first public address since his appointment in February.
Chikane said: “Unfortunately, in the recent past, members of the ANC and some leaders think of the ANC as a place where you go and serve yourself rather than serving the people.
“I want to state it clear that fortunately the policy is clear, anybody who comes here to serve themselves is likely to act unethically, and when you do that, you cannot to be a member of the ANC in good standing.”
He added this would be the commission’s most formidable challenge as it sought to be a significant player in the ANC’s renewal process.
“The commission is one of the institutions within the ANC that is supposed to assist the ANC to become what it’s supposed to be. It’s about the people, leaders of society.
“If anybody does anything that does not serve the people, it is a deviation from what the party is about.
“People of integrity should lead it; if people don’t lead with integrity, then they should not lead at all. We need to deal decisively with corruption.”
Chikane replaced ANC veteran George Mashamba as committee chairperson in February.
Sophie de Bruyn-Williams was elected to deputise him.
Other members appointed to the commission include Sue Rabkin, Cyril Jantjies, Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, Nkele Ntingane, Thandi Rankoe, Jenny Schreiner, James Ngculu and Len Rasekgatla.
The commission deals with reports relating to corruption, maladministration, and any conduct that brings the ANC into disrepute.
At Tuesday’s briefing, Chikane was meant to update the public on the commission’s mandate, which is to monitor members and ensure they carry themselves in a morally upright manner.
He said the commission was, contrary to public perception, not a disciplinary body but worked hand in hand with the ANC’s disciplinary committee in the party’s attempt to renew itself and do away with members mired in allegations of wrongdoing.
Despite this commitment to turning around the party’s checkered image, Chikane was unable to give any details on the commission’s long-awaited recommendations from high-profile investigations that include the Phala Phala and Digital Vibes scandal, which the ANC has kicked down the road.
Phala Phala came to the public’s attention last year after former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa, claiming millions of dollars were kept at his game farm and later stolen in 2020 with the matter being left unreported.
Ramaphosa has vehemently denied this was the amount stolen and has consistently said it was a much smaller amount.
Last November, a draft report by the then-Mashamba-led integrity commission concluded the Phala Phala scandal had brought the party into disrepute.
The ethics body, however, could not determine whether Ramaphosa, those who work on the farm, or ANC members should be held responsible.
Yet another investigation, whose outcome has been gathering dust, is the Digital Vibes scandal in which former health minister Zweli Mkhize was implicated.
Between January 2020 and February 2021, Digital Vibes, a company owned by Mkhize’s associates, received R150 million from the Department of Health intended for the National Health Insurance (NHI) campaign and vital public communications around the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instead, few of these funds were used for legitimate work as most were diverted to individuals for the personal benefit of themselves, family members, and associates.
The tender was found to have been awarded improperly and led to Mkhize’s resignation, as well as seven government officials being investigated for misconduct and served with letters of suspension.
Last December, the ANC’s national executive committee resolved to table the integrity commission’s reports on Phala Phala and Digital Vibes at the party’s elective conference that was expected to start a week from when this decision was taken.
At this elective conference, the party announced a resolution had been reached for the reports to be processed by the incoming integrity commission.
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Ramaphosa has appeared twice before the commission over the controversy around the theft at his game farm in Phala Phala, the last session being in September.
He confirmed this by saying he had a good meeting with the body of elders.
“I gave them quite a bit of information, much of which is in the public domain,” the president told the media at the time.
Chikane was, however, able to give an update on members who failed to present themselves before the commission despite being implicated in the state capture commission’s report.
He said individuals who had failed to present themselves before the commission within the stimulated three months were now expected to present themselves before the ANC’s disciplinary committee.
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