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The provincial executive committee (PEC) of the ANC of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has targeted the state bodies operating in the justice sector, in particular, the National Prosecutor’s Office for its handling of cases involving members of the match.
Reporting to the media on Thursday about the results of the PEC meeting, the ANC secretary in Mdumiseni Ntuli province said that the PEC accepted the report from the provincial integrity commission that there was no adequate information to make a recommendation. to the PEC that former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede and his co-defendants in the Durban solid waste scandal, Zoe Shabalala and Thembelihle de Lange, should be removed, suspended or withdrawn from their deployments.
ALSO READ: Zandile Gumede, tainted by corruption, reinstated in the KZN legislature
Gumede, now a member of the KZN legislature, and eThekwini councilors Shabalala and De Lange face charges of fraud, corruption and extortion in a R400 million waste disposal tender.
Ntuli said the commission had made recommendations for the PEC’s consideration and that the commission noted that the state had not yet delivered a formal indictment to the three that clearly explained its case against them.
In addition, the commission noted that by appearing before it, the trio denied the charges against them and indicated that once they have been served with a formal indictment, they intend to plead not guilty, Ntuli said.
The commission also noted that Shabalala and De Lange were arrested on December 11, 2019 and Gumede more than a year and a half ago, but their case in court was postponed on the grounds that the state was still investigating, Ntuli said.
Based on the information before it, the commission ruled that there was no basis to conclude that the trio had violated constitutional rule 25.7.4 of the party and found no basis to recommend to the PEC that the three be withdrawn. , suspended or should be removed from their positions, Ntuli said.
The PEC held extensive discussions on the commission’s report, Ntuli said, adding that it noted with “deep concern” how law enforcement agencies sometimes arrest ANC members, some in custody, without being charged. And released indefinitely. what undermines the legal principle of delayed justice is justice denied.
ALSO READ: IFP asks High Court to remove Zandile Gumede from KZN legislature
This gives credence to the accusations and suspicions that some state organs are being used to promote a political agenda, Ntuli said.
Ntuli further said that the PEC was lobbying the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to finalize the national framework and guidelines on how the commission’s reports should be handled and how the conference resolution on the resignation of the comrades accused of corruption.
Ntuli said it was correct to say that there appeared to be an inconsistency in the way the national integrity commission had handled the matter of ANC secretary general Ace Magashule, and the way the provincial integrity commission had dealt with Gumede and the his co-defendant’s matter, which required the framework and guidelines.
ALSO READ: ANC integrity commission recommends that Magashule ‘step aside’
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