A meeting to decide whether to replace or keep the names of ANC members facing criminal charges from the party’s candidates lists has been shelved until January 4.
The extended national executive committee (NEC) meeting, at which provincial secretaries would have tabled their nominees as recommended by the provincial list committee, was scheduled for the weekend.
But ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule sent out a letter on Thursday postponing the meeting to next year as the appeals process would not have been wrapped up by this weekend.
Under scrutiny at the meeting would be candidates lists submitted by each of the nine provinces. The Dispatch understands that the Eastern Cape emailed its list on Wednesday night after the provincial executive committee (PEC) scrutinised the names, and agreed not to make changes.
ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi confirmed that the list would be subject to scrutiny. “Expectedly the processes that follow will be a rigorous screening of candidates to ensure that all candidates that would represent the ANC are above reproach and meet all the necessary requirements of good standing in society.”
The party set the bar high this week when its provincial leaders in Limpopo and North West resolved to remove all mayors who were implicated in the VBS scandal.
The national integrity commission has a standing ruling about its members in the Dr WB Rubusana region, who were implicated in the alleged mismanagement of R5.9m earmarked for Nelson Mandela memorial services.
In terms of the ruling, they would not serve as senior councillors for bringing the party into disrepute.
But it has since emerged that four of those accused are likely to be deployed into even more senior positions like the Bhisho legislature and national council of provinces.
Sindiswa Gomba is at number six for the Bhisho legislature. The names of other Mandela fraud accused included former mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, former deputy mayor Themba Tinta and Luleka Simon-Ndzele.
Other controversial figures include:
Former Amathole district mayor Nomasikizi Khonza at number eight on the list for the Bhisho legislature. Khonza is facing criminal charges for her alleged involvement in swindling R2.5m when a fellow councillor hosted a beauty contest back in 2015;
Former Buffalo City mayor Zukisa Faku, who has been found guilty of fraud, also made it into the province to national list. She has since appealed the judgment.
The case of the Mandela fraud accused would still be the subject of discussion when the provincial working committee holds its first meeting in January.
“No candidate of the ANC would be allowed to form part of the list if they have a criminal record and are generally of questionable character.
“The ANC has demonstrated that it is serious about the renewal of values and its standing,” said Ngcukayitobi...