Pic: Daily Maverick

Faizel Patel – 22/09/2020

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

Political analyst Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast says while the African National Congress (ANC) subscribes to democratic centralism, some members have disrespected the ideals of the party which tantamount to ill-discipline.

The party’s National Executive Committee have instructed members and office-bearers who are facing outstanding issues to step aside, but this instruction have been met with defiance.

Following the last meeting of the party’s NEC, the ANC headquarters instructed provincial leaders to provide audited reports on members accused of wrongdoing for a decision on whether they should step aside from their positions or appear before the party’s integrity commission.

This was supposed to be a signal that the party is responding to public outrage over corruption, but it is failing badly.

Speaking to Radio Islam, Dr Breakfast says the ANC wanted to be seen to be doing something about ill-disciplined members instead of just “folding its arms.”

“I think the challenge is that we have not heard of specific guidelines in terms of how this process is going to be managed. The other challenge is that the issue of factionalism also comes into play and also it diffuses itself to the state because some of the people have defied the order. They are targeted by the dominant faction.”

Dr. Breakfast says the ANC must deal decisively with Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku after he failed to practice adequate oversight of the PPE contracts being awarded by his department.

This relates to a R125-million tender given to the husband of presidential spokesperson, Khusela Diko.

“It will be great if they can convey a strong message by making sure that maybe the people who might have done wrong, they are brought to book and they must be consequences, because clearly there is something that was done wrong that should have in terms of the awarding of the tender.”

Dr. Breakfast says the issue of institutionalised corruption has really dealt the ANC a blow and they will have to work very hard in restoring the image of the party.

Listen to the interview with Dr. Ntsikelelo Breakfast