ANC talks tough at NGC

12 October 2015 - 02:39 By Shenaaz Jamal and Neo Goba

The ANC is fighting back in a desperate attempt to clean house ahead of next year's local government elections. The party, to strengthen the organisation and ultimately its leadership, wants to give its Integrity Committee more powers.The move, announced during its National General Conference by President Jacob Zuma, is aimed at doing away with factionalism and bad behaviour tainting its image.He said the ANC wanted the committee to have enough powers to make decisions that were binding and not just recommendations.Any member in a prominent position suspected or linked to criminal activities or general bad behaviour, will be forced to step aside while the committee investigates. If found guilty, the member will have to stand down.With ANC membership plunging by 40% since 2011, the conference has taken a firm stand to tighten up the vetting of new members.North West premier Supra Mahumapelo said the committee should be given power to "bite" those who undermined the ANC."People must know that when you misbehave in the ANC, you can not use your position or history in the organisation to undermine the work of the integrity committee."Zuma said the membership had plunged from about a million in 2012, to 769 870."The conference needs to undertake a frank assessment of the organisation and identify those issues that make our traditional support base unhappy."Several members are facing various criminal charges or have been convicted.Members who have never been convicted or who are facing criminal charges, but never removed from their positions include Tony Yengeni, for a drunken driving charge, and Alvin Botes, Northern Cape MEC and Northern Cape chairman, John Block...

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