David Mabuza deputy president

David Mabuza is sworn-in as an MP on Tuesday 28 May – Photo: PresidencyZA / Twitter

ANC’s “integrity commission” threatens to divide the party

The much-fabled integrity commission of the ANC could ask as many as 23 members to step down from their positions, ruffling a few feathers in the process.

David Mabuza deputy president

David Mabuza is sworn-in as an MP on Tuesday 28 May – Photo: PresidencyZA / Twitter

In the few weeks after our general election, it emerged that the ANC is currently vetting its members through a newly-established “integrity commission”. This branch of the party has been highly active, presiding over all elected MPs from the organisation and their previous misdemeanours.

David Mabuza had to face the commission last week, as he attempted to clear his name before being reappointed as the deputy president. Mabuza has a long, controversial history and the powers that be prodded and probed “the cat” before he was eventually allowed to rejoin Parliament.

A party divided

However, according to a report in the Sunday Times, Cyril Ramaphosa’s right-hand man remains on the integrity commission’s watch-list. The officials are said to be considering asking Mabuza to resign as an MP, along with MK Military Veterans Association president Kebby Maphatsoe and the always-divisive Bathabile Dlamini.

The commission has shaken things up dramatically in the party. So, as expected, there’s been a bit of a backlash from some of the ANC’s bigwigs. Maphatsoe himself is livid with the commission, who he blames for digging too far into the past. He said that he had been interrogated about his time in exile, way before the ANC came to power in 1994.

ANC integrity commission set to drop the hammer

A report is due to be published by the panel, who could recommend that as many as 23 ANC members must vacate their posts due to previous indiscretions. The ruling party are currently locked in discussions at a lekgotla in Irene, Pretoria. But it’s understood that the commission’s finding won’t be published this weekend.

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party is to reconvene separately to discuss the report, before going public with the details. Given the rampant factionalism in the ANC, it’s no surprise that many pro-Zuma MPs are said to be in the firing line. We’re yet to receive confirmation on whether Pravin Gordhan is amongst the 23, though.