Weekend of accusations and discontent points to a storm on the ANC's horizon

With the ANC’s electoral committee set to release the party’s branch nominations lists on Tuesday, 15 November, developments this weekend, particularly at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, may be significant.

Much of the action appeared to involve President Cyril Ramaphosa’s enemies attacking him, although a closer evaluation suggests these attacks do not carry much weight.

At the same time, comments by the ANC’s Integrity Commission that it is not “toothless” may also need a proper examination. And a decision by the ANC Veterans League to nominate former Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to the position of deputy ANC leader is likely to lead to more speculation about what could happen in December.

There can be little doubt of the stakes at play in the ANC this week. It may well be the most pivotal political week of the year, perhaps a scene setter for the ANC’s December conference. This is why this weekend’s NEC meeting was so important – many of those involved would have tried to get an early advantage for what is to come.

https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-11-10-coming-to-south-africa-seven-days-that-could-make-or-break-cyril-ramaphosa/

Key to all of this was the finding by the ANC’s Integrity Commission that it cannot blame Ramaphosa for the Phala Phala scandal. It has been reported that the committee instead found that although the scandal was damaging for the ANC, it could not determine who was to blame for it.

The Integrity Commission appears to have found that it could be the result of the actions of several people. These appear to include the actions of Ramaphosa, and/or an “ANC member” (presumably Arthur Fraser) for reporting the crime. It was not made clear how reporting a crime could be defined as unethical by the committee.

What is clear from the findings is that Ramaphosa told the commission very little, claiming he had been “gagged” by the office of the Public Protector.

Although he may believe this, as others have noted, it is difficult to understand how someone who is the victim of a crime could not tell the public what he has told the police, or the Public Protector’s office or any other body.

In the end, it’s now understood that Ramaphosa told the NEC the US dollars on his farms were the proceeds of a sale of an animal to a Sudanese businessman. And it appears, in one version at least, that he may not even have known that the money had been stuffed into the furniture.

‘Toothless integrity’

Sisulu on attack

“His rise to ANC presidency in 2017 was a result of a combination of money, manipulation and misrepresentation, aided and abetted by external forces on a level not previously experienced in the ANC.

“His application to court to seal the CR17 funds was a cover-up and still casts a dark shadow over the integrity of the outcomes of the conference.

“His failure to come clean on the Marikana massacre and to apologise where an apology is due is a blot on his character, and casts a shadow on the ANC.

“And, of course, the ongoing Phala Phala affair continues to put the ANC and the country in bad light.

“The assessment of leadership with the president as the head sees a dysfunctional ANC in all regards. Under this leadership, the ANC has disbanded all its leagues which represent an essential aspect of its ongoing existence.

“The organisation finds itself in the intensive care unit. We are unable to honour basic employment contracts with staff and workers, and we are nonchalant about it, even arrogant in our failure to care. South Africa has become the laughing stock of the world. These developments occasioned my discontent and, for the sake of the ANC and our country, the president must do the honourable thing and resign.”

Not-so-quiet speculation