ANC leaders embroiled in multiple controversies will continue to be elected to higher positions of the party to contest state elections because party branches remain indifferent to ethical concerns, say political analysts.
The analysts were commenting in reaction to the latest scandal that led to the formation of parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to investigate allegations of political interference in police, which implicate police minister Senzo Mchunu.
Former president Jacob Zuma was elected while facing numerous corruption allegations, including the arms deal procurement scandal.
President Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected while also facing the Phala Phala scandal in which a huge amount of American currency, which was not declared to the taxman, was stolen during a break-in at his farmhouse.
Now two of the ANC national executive committee members, Mchunu and former police minister Bheki Cele, who admitted to the Ad Hoc Committee of sleeping twice at controversial businessman Vusi “Cat” Matlala’s house in Pretoria, have been found wanting.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri has not yet responded to questions sent to her on Friday.
The inquiries were a reaction to KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s accusation that Mchunu associated himself with Matlala and Brown Mogotsi, and had disbanded the police’s Political Killing Task Team (PKTT) to protect them from being investigated.
Political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said Mchunu was as tainted as the ANC, which he said lacked credibility.
He said the former liberation movement has become synonymous with corruption and incompetence.
“Mchunu had no scandals until Mkhwanazi made allegations about him.
“He was perceived as a clean and honorable politician,” said Ndlovu.
He said that he could not see how the ANC’s Integrity Commission could institute an investigation against Mchunu while it also lacks credibility.
“It (Integrity Committee) has previously cleared shady characters.”
Ndlovu said Mchunu is already compromised, and his political career no longer looks good.
“He stood a great chance of becoming deputy president until Mkhwanazi made the shocking claims about him,” said Ndlovu.
Another political analyst, Thabani Khumalo, said the ANC continues to face embarrassing situations, but there are voters who still believe in it.
“But the ANC will continue (to get support) because the president told the Zondo Commission of Inquiry (into state capture) that the ANC is accused number one, next moment, people of South Africa voted the ANC.
“I don’t know whether those guys have lost conscience, and they have this self-entitlement that, whether South Africans like it or not, they will vote for us.
“Don’t be surprised if Mchunu is nominated for a senior position within the ANC because ANC members have no shame and still have the belief that the ANC would run the country until Jesus comes back,” said Khumalo.
He also believes that even with Mchunu at the helm of the ANC, some voters would still vote for the ANC because “there are those who cling to the ANC”.
“You put Senzo or Jacob Zuma or whoever has been accused, if they’re representing the ANC, people would vote for the ANC.”
bongani.hans@inl.co.za
