Cape Town — The African National Congress (ANC) confirmed that four of its members were disqualified from its public representatives list, as the party announced its election candidates list.
During a media briefing, ANC spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, said each candidate was assessed on a case-by-case basis, and some were cleared by the committee, while others were not. She also added that anyone implicated in the State Capture report, did not mean they were guilty in the court of law, EWN reported.
“Of course, public representatives, leaders of the ANC have a much bigger moral obligation to take the issue, any allegation as seriously as possible when people are implicated which is why we are strengthening these oversight institutions which are meant to assist us with ethics and integrity management within the organisation.” she said.
[WATCH] ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says a total of four ANC members were red-flagged for being fingered in the Zondo Commission report and they will not be eligible to stand for election to the national and provincial legislatures.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/OW8YlVSkj4
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 8, 2024
The Citizen reported that the criteria for candidates included that they not have been charged in a court of law, and be subject to lifestyle audits.
“After an elaborate process that combined selection and election the ANC’s list for parliament in the nine provincial legislatures can be categorised as a mosaic of culture, gender, geography and skill,” she said.
Bhengu-Motsiri said the selection process was managed by the electoral committee, led by former president Kgalema Motlanthe, and she said the ANC’s selection committee followed a thorough interview and vetting process.
“It is our conviction that this process demonstrates the ANC’s position as the only political party capable and intentional about both descriptive and substantive representation of young people, of women and other groups.”
The ANC also outlined the criteria for candidates that included post-matric qualifications, and a good understanding of key ANC values, as well as aligning themselves to the party’s manifesto.
The ANC said it will release its candidate’s list on Monday for public scrutiny or affirmation.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
