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Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says she will submit to the ANC’s integrity committee following media reports that a family member allegedly had business dealings with a board member of the ANC’s office. South Africa Post.
MESS on Thursday reported that Ndabeni-Abrahams had fired Sapo’s board member after allegations that he was doing business with her husband, Thato Abrahams.
Ndabeni-Abrahams said the Communications Department and all officials belonging to its portfolio must be “determined to root out corruption” and “lead by example.” The minister said she valued the role of the media in holding public officials accountable.
“The media is an important democratic institution for holding public officials accountable and must be respected.
“We were hopeful that our responses, which are always open and transparent, to questions from the media, would be sufficient to address any public concerns about these matters and inform the public of the veracity of the matters reported.”
Minister @Stellarate takes a firm stance on corruption; Volunteers to the ANC Integrity Committee. pic.twitter.com/FBfgZ3WiXT
– Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (@CommsZA) September 4, 2020
Line in the sand
The Ndabeni-Abrahams decision comes less than a week after President Cyril Ramaphosa warned that the ANC ‘will draw a line in the sand’ between the organization and those who rob the people.
He said the movement’s cadres, who are formally charged with corruption or other serious crimes, should immediately withdraw from all leadership positions in the ANC or other government structures.
The president said that the cadres caught in acts of corruption must face the integrity commission to explain themselves. Those who do not give an acceptable explanation can be suspended. Those convicted must resign from leadership positions and face disciplinary action.
“They have to be serious accusations that are of such a nature that someone must answer for himself in a satisfactory way. Once they have done so, the integrity commission must consider what they say and make a decision. “
Ramaphosa said the commission’s decision should be binding; He added that the ANC has a mechanism to revoke a person’s membership in the ANC. This includes expulsion and a time limit on when they can return to the party.
“There are some people who, of their own free will, have already decided that they will step aside. We should pay tribute and respect to those members and say that they are putting the ANC’s interests ahead of their own. “
The integrity commission will be strengthened, by the means to carry out its mandate, said the president.
“The NEC agreed that this will be a turning point in the fight against corruption,” he said.
Read: Mabuza sends a warning message about corruption in South Africa
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