ANC, nation deserve full explanation from Ramaphosa, says Gigaba

NTOMBI NKOSI

ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za

ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member and former ANCYL president Melusi Gigaba was applauded by a number of South Africans, amid saying that there was a need to relook at leadership in the party.

Gigaba told one of the 24-hour broadcasters that the ANC was more determined than ever before as it prepares for the 55th national conference next week.

He said the party has had four years of interim structures as it goes to conference.

“We do not have a secretary general, we do not have a deputy secretary-general, and we have three, if not five, interim structures that are attending conference: the Western Cape, Free State, Veterans League, ANCWL, and ANCYL.

“Surely that experience should say to us we are not say that we are going to disregard all that has happened in the last five years and demand a repeat of the last five years.

“We can’t have a new five years that looks exactly like the previous five years. We need to give someone else the opportunity to lead the ANC,” Gigaba said.

President Cyril Ramaphosa this week received the support of the ANC’s NEC in a bid to clear his name amid scathing findings by the Section 89 independent panel report, which found that he has a prima facie case to answer regarding the Phala Phala farmgate.

Also this week, Ramaphosa’s team announced that he will seek to challenge the report in the Constitutional Court to have it set aside.

The NEC took a decision to instruct its caucus in parliament to say its members will vote against the adoption, according to the report.

Gigaba said this was a collective decision to the extent that members of the NEC were part of the discussion.

“We need to clarify that the NEC was not saying that they are shielding the president from accounting; we are saying that the president owes the nation a full explanation.

“We are saying he has a right to exercise all his options including taking the report on review.

“We have full respect for the Speaker of Parliament and members of the panel; we note the report, and to that extent, we are of the view that we are not prejudging the parliamentary process, and we are aware that the parliamentary process will provide the president with a wide platform from which to answer the allegations and explain to all of us,” said Gigaba.

He said the NEC appreciates that a whistle-blower has come out and that these issues need to be clarified for the safety of the country’s democracy, the sake of the ANC, and its prestige.

A few months ago, former spy boss Arthur Fraser opened a criminal case against Ramaphosa.

Gigaba said whistle-blowers need to be protected.

"Many of us have to answer to allegations that we’re based on nothing but hear say gossip but we presented ourselves to State Capture Commission.

“We have answered many allegations without trying to run away from accountability, and the movement did not shield us.

“The NEC is not trying to shield the president from having to answer.

“It is not up to me to state whether I believe Fraser or not because I am neither the Section 89 panel nor the process established by parliament which is going to be debated and voted on next week, which must provide the president that opportunity to answer,” he said.

Gigaba said the ANC and the nation deserve answers as the ANC is heading to conference.

“As the ANC sits at its national conference next week, we are going to have this dark cloud hanging, which has not been clarified.

“We need to be explained to so that we know what is it that we are dealing with because there are many questions which need answers,” Gigaba said.

He said the more people try to come in, the more they muddy the information that is available at the public level, and he thinks they need to get a response that will satisfy everyone.

“Right now, the fate of our democracy and the prestige of the ANC are hanging in the balance.

“Members of the ANC have got a responsibility to learn from the mistakes we have committed in the past where we have seen to be trying to shield the president from accounting. We do need an explanation,” Gigaba said.

ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za

• President Cyril Ramaphosa to hear his fate today from the ANC Integrity Commission