‘Step in the right direction’: DA and UDM react to ANC resolution

Opposition parties are not entirely convinced about the new measures the African National Congress’ (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) has decided to implement, as a way to combat and distance itself from corruption.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa gave a briefing on the outcomes of the NEC meeting which took place over the weekend, where graft dominated discussions. Ramaphosa said they were ‘drawing a line in the sand’ between the party and members who stick their hands in the proverbial cookie jar.

One of the resolutions taken is that members who face charges, including corruption, should be asked to withdraw from their duties.

“We have also decided that cadres of the movement who are formally charged for corruption or other serious crimes must immediately step aside from all leadership positions in the ANC, legislatures or other government structures”, he said on Monday, 31 August 2020.

Holomisa: ‘Corruption in the ANC dates back to 1994’

The leader of the United Democratic Movement (UDM) Bantu Holomisa appears to be only moderately confident in Ramaphosa’s bid to clean house.

“It’s a step in the right direction given that we have never seen a president of the ANC before Cyril Ramaphosa taking lead in fighting corruption. You must also remember that this corruption started as early as 1994 and so on”, he said during an interview with ENCA.

Holomisa, however has taken issue with political appointments in office being given carte blanche in hiring their supportive staff, saying it needed to be addressed.

“But the problem (for) Cyril Ramaphosa will be this silent decree that capable individuals should not be appointed to key positions if they do not belong to the ruling party. So he needs to look at his civil service and the cabinet as to whether they are capable of taking this bold step forward”, Holomisa added.

Holomisa further said the extent of corruption within the ruling party stretched far beyond Luthuli House and had trickled down to smaller structures.

Steenhuisen: ‘It remains to be seen if Ramaphosa will act’

While the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) John Steenhuisen also agreed that it was indeed a step in the right direction, he emphasised that it was a long journey ahead for Ramaphosa who faces opposition from within the ANC’s decision-making body, mainly from members aligned to former president Jacob Zuma.

“We’ve seen lines in the sand drawn many times before. So many lines in fact that the ANC looks like a zen garden. And it’s going to remains to be seen what happens when those lines are in fact transgressed. And whether the president has the bottle to go through with the action that’s going to be required when senior members of his own party are forced to account”, Steenhuisen said.