[ad_1]
The ANC’s latest controversy, involving its delegation taking a taxpayer-funded trip on a South African Air Force plane to Harare and ‘ignoring level 2 lockdown regulations’, has received mixed reactions.
The ANC has been accused of abusing state resources after its delegation landed in Zimbabwe last week on a taxpayer-funded flight for a meeting with Zanu-PF.
The delegation led by the party’s general secretary, Ace Magashule, met with officials of the ruling Zanu-PF after allegations of human rights violations during the pandemic and the coronavirus shutdown.
TimesLIVE reported that the delegation received a boost from Defense Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, who had permission to travel to Zimbabwe to meet with his counterpart to discuss defense-related issues in the region after a recent summit of the Development Community of Southern Africa (SADC).
President Cyril Ramaphosa gave Mapisa-Nqakula 48 hours to compile a report on the incident.
In a statement issued by the presidency, Ramaphosa said the incident brought both the ANC and the government into the limelight.
“In the interest of good governance and the prudent and ethical use of state assets, the president has directed the minister to provide a report within 48 hours that will set out the circumstances surrounding the flight and the passenger list.”
The president acknowledged outrage over the incident, saying it is an “indication of the nation’s vigilance against allegations of improper deployment of public resources.”
