Top of the agenda of the first meeting of the new members in the ANC’s integrity commission will be to discuss newly-elected Dr WB Rubusana regional chair Pumlani Mkolo and how he came to be elected.
The integrity commission is tasked with investigating members who harm the party’s image through corruption or unethical behaviour and Mkolo, who won the ANC regional conference with 120 votes against Buffalo City Metro mayor Xola Pakati’s 107 votes last weekend is suspended from the party following his implication in the Mandela funeral scandal.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch on Tuesday, commission member Sindiso Mfenyana said a number of institutions and individuals within the party, including provincial chair Oscar Mabuyane, should be asked how Mkolo came to be an eligible candidate in light of his suspension from the party five years ago.
Mfenyana said what usually happens, is that the suspension remains until the case against an individual is finalised.
He said it should be noted that the commission, which is made up of nine ANC veterans, does not make any decision but rather makes recommendations to the ANC’s national executive committee.
“The integrity commission does not make any decisions; it is not a court. It makes recommendations which are taken seriously and reports to the secretary general [Ace Magashule] of the ANC.
“Then it is the secretary-general that ensures that those recommendations are acted upon and taken seriously.
“It will have to be the first issue that we must discuss. Even before that discussion I would presume the office of the secretary-general would be informed that there would be this looming complication and that they would be preparing a decision on that matter,” said Mfenyana.
Mkolo on Wednesday said it was difficult for him to comment on the coming meeting and the views of Mfenyana. He said it was only through the Daily Dispatch that he had learnt of the concerns.
“Yhoo ufuna ndithini? Kaloku ndiyiva ngawe lento [Yhoo, what do you want me to say? I am only hearing it from you].”
The debate around Mkolo’s suspension was raised during plenary sessions at the WB Rubusana conference at the East London City Hall last Friday. It was dismissed on the basis that the integrity commission was not present to answer questions.
The ANC will, however, be faced with a dilemma when it deals with the case as it has been seen to be ignoring some of the resolutions of the commission.
Mfenyana also confirmed to the Daily Dispatch on Wednesday that he had received a report from the provincial integrity commission chairman Professor Shepherd Mayatula last week, informing him that there were concerns over the election of Mkolo...