EDITORIAL | Never mind vaccines – and us. All the ANC cares about is itself

While the country is facing a looming third wave of Covid-19 infections — which scientists predict will most likely be the most destructive — the governing party’s highest decision making body spent much of its four-day meeting debating whether someone charged  with corruption should step aside or not.

Party leaders spent more time on the subject than they did interrogating minister Zweli Mkhize’s vaccine rollout programme.

The stakes are high for President Cyril Ramaphosa. The last time a sitting president tried to remove a fellow member of the Top Six, he was denied a third term and was later unceremoniously removed from office. If reports coming from the meeting are to be believed, Ramaphosa has the upper hand, as the majority of NEC members agree that it is about time the ANC saves whatever is left of its bruised image by implementing a resolution of its 2017 Nasrec conference that those facing charges must vacate their positions.

Citizens of SA again took a back seat as party leaders invested more energy on shielding their comrades who are accused of corruption.

But the decision on how that should happen was stalled on Sunday, after Ace Magashule and his backers protested against the instruction giving those who are charged seven days to voluntary “step aside” or face suspension and disciplinary charges. The decision, should it be adopted, has serious complications for Ramaphosa’s opponents. Magashule is in charge of the day-to-day running of Luthuli House and has control over critical party processes. His removal from office would weaken the so-called “Radical Economic Transformation” grouping and deal a blow to their hopes of challenging Ramaphosa in the next conference.

For Ramaphosa, this is one battle he must win if he intends contesting for a second term. Should he lose this debate, he would be regarded as a weak president who is not in charge of his party. This would embolden his opponents, who have so far have been struggling to find a bold candidate to take on the president next year.

Ramaphosa’s allies could not force the decision at the meeting that went on until the wee hours of Monday morning. The meeting was expected to resume again on Monday evening.

Whenever the governing party conducts a diagnostic report of its problems, it always identifies the fact that it had become inward looking and as a result may have neglected its core function, which is to govern. However, it seems “the leader of society” has not learnt from this, as the interests of the citizens of SA again took a back seat as party leaders invested more energy on shielding their comrades who are accused of corruption. What a sad state.