Disquiet as South African ruling party unveils candidates for poll
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has defended its election list that includes candidates who were implicated in the ‘state capture’ saga.
Three senior ANC officials, fingered for their involvement in influencing the awarding of government contracts in exchange for bribes, have made the ANC list for the May 8 provincial and national elections.
Prior to the release of the much-awaited list, there had been calls from the public to exclude individuals implicated in the state capture like Environmental Affairs minister Nomvula Mokonyane, Women Affairs minister Bathabile Dlamini and controversial former Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba.
Lied under oath
The judicial commission of inquiry into state capture last month heard that Ms Mokonyane allegedly received bribes from under-fire facilities management company Bosasa, while Ms Dlamini and Mr Gigaba were both found to have lied under oath by the Constitutional Court.
ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule confirmed the trio was part of the national list handed over the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) at its Pretoria offices on Wednesday afternoon.
Mr Magashule defended the move, saying the party would not exclude candidates based on allegations.
“What we have done is that we have looked at what the law says. You are talking about the people who have not been charged with any crime or offence. Why do you want to single out people because they are out there in the media with allegations?” Mr Magashule said.
Court of law
The list of 867 had been trimmed to 300, with names being removed “because a court of law had given judgement against them”.
Mr Magashule explained that party members who were excluded were those who have convictions longer than 12 months.
The ANC top three list to the National Assembly is headed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President David Mabuza and Mineral Resources minister and party national chairman Gwede Mantashe. Former African Union chairperson Nkosazana
Dlamini-Zuma, presently Minister in the Presidency, is fourth on the list.