African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula noted on Monday that President Cyril Ramaphosa and party national chairperson Gwede Mantashe were among the people that had no adverse findings made against them by the party’s Integrity Commission.

Mbalula said six of the 20 ANC members named in the State Capture Commission report appear on the party’s 2024 candidate lists.

He said Ramaphosa and all other candidates who were mentioned in the Integrity Commission’s report recused themselves from the Special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday.

“…so he was not absent because he ran away from difficult matters as it was reported. For good governance the President and the national chairperson were among those people with no adverse findings from the Integrity Commission, as we discussed this matter till 02:00 am on Thursday. They recused themselves even though there were no adverse findings on themselves,” highlighted Mbalula.

He explained that in carrying out the mandate given by the Special NEC, the ANC electoral committee was asked to provide a list of names of ANC candidates who had appeared before the ANC Integrity Commission, and who are named in the State Capture Commission Report.

He highlighted that a number of individuals who fell into those categories were either not nominated as candidates or were found by the Independent Electoral Committee to be ineligible owing to having criminal records, criminal charges, or being suspended pending ANC disciplinary processes.

Mbulula said that the National Officials’ report, presented to the Special NEC meeting on Thursday, contained three parts, dealing with candidates with no adverse findings made against them by the Integrity Commission; candidates with adverse findings against them and candidates named in the State Capture Commission Report who are not mentioned in the Integrity Committee reports.

Candidates with no adverse findings made against them by the Integrity Commission are eligible to stand as ANC candidates, and a total of 9 of the 16 candidates fell into this category.

Of the candidates whom the Integrity Commission made adverse findings against, three are eligible to stand as ANC candidates pending finalisation of their reviews, appeals or other processes. Mbalula said two candidates are not eligible to stand as ANC candidates.

He highlighted that candidates who are named in the State Capture Commission Report and who did not present themselves to the Integrity Commission, as directed by the NEC, and who have been referred to the National Disciplinary Committee, are not eligible to stand as candidates.

The NEC reiterated the principles that ANC candidates must be persons of integrity and that the organisation is committed to respecting the rights of its members to due and fair process.

“Accordingly, the Special NEC resolved that the above candidates should be allowed to stand as ANC candidates pending completion of their various outstanding appeal, review, or disciplinary processes. Should they be elected, their positions as public representatives will be re-assessed based on the outcomes of these processes,” said Mbalula.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Meanwhile, he said that the ANC candidate selection process aimed to ensure that only the most qualified and deserving individuals were nominated for positions. He said the party had implemented strict criteria to ensure the integrity and credibility of its candidates.

He said the ANC candidate selection process, which began in August 2023, was guided by a new set of rules aimed at promoting transparency, integrity, meritocracy, vibrant internal democracy, broader participation of the alliance and mass democratic movement, and a thorough evaluation of each candidate's profile.

Electoral committee chairperson Kagalema Motlanthe said that the vetting and internal selection process was a worthy and rewarding exercise, as it ensured the rigour necessary to select nominees who will “no doubt add value in Parliament”.