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President Cyril Ramaphosa.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has reaffirmed the ANC’s support for Zondo’s commission of inquiry into state capture.
- The president stated that party leaders should cooperate with the commission.
- Former President Jacob Zuma has made it clear that he was willing to face jail rather than appear before the commission.
President Cyril Ramaphosa used his opening speech at the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) to reaffirm the party’s support for Zondo’s commission of inquiry in what was seen as an offensive against former President Jacob Zuma.
Ramaphosa opened the virtual meeting on Saturday in which he stated that party leaders should cooperate with the commission amid furors that Zuma would defy a constitutional court order and would not appear before the commission where he is expected to do so on Monday.
A source close to the meeting said Ramaphosa’s comments would set the tone for discussions where his allies were expected to argue that the party could not be asked to intervene if Zuma was arrested for violating a subpoena.
READ | ‘The course of action can cause the death of people’ – SACC concerned about Zuma’s snub to the Zondo commission
The president, insiders said, pointed out that the party had to handle the guidelines of its step aside policy “with maturity.”
ANC General Treasurer Paul Mashatile presented the guidelines drawn up by Matthews Phosa, Kgalema Motlanthe and three other party veterans.
The guidelines affirm the conference’s resolution that if a party leader is accused of corruption, he must step aside.
Insiders said that according to the guidelines, leaders must step aside voluntarily.
Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola says it is “dangerous” for someone to disobey Zondo’s commission of inquiry into the state capture, adding that it was “no ANC” not to cooperate with the commission. | @J_chabalala https://t.co/8udF4snb7n
– News24 (@ News24) February 8, 2021
If they don’t, they must submit to the ANC’s integrity commission.
If the commission recommended that they step aside, the NEC could suspend that leader, two sources said.
The guidelines would be subject to scrutiny in the NEC and are likely to face some rejection.
READ ALSO | ‘Jacob Zuma must face the consequences of his actions’ – Casac
If adopted, it will have to apply to the ANC’s secretary general, Ace Magashule, who faces 21 counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering.
Despite this, Magashule rejected any calls for him to step aside and submitted a report to the NEC after Ramaphosa’s leadership.
The president, internal sources said, focused his speech on the plans announced in his speech on the state of the nation and updated the party on the government’s efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The meeting is expected to conclude on Sunday evening.
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