ANC bigwigs face the music over state capture

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has launched a disciplinary process against three senior party leaders implicated in the Zondo state capture report: Malusi Gigaba, David Mahlobo and Cedric Frolick.

ANC Veterans League president Snuki Zikalala told the Sunday Times this week that Mbalula informed veterans that he has written to the party’s integrity commission asking it to resume disciplinary processes against Gigaba, a former minister of finance, public enterprises and home affairs; Mahlobo, current deputy minister of water & sanitation and a former minister of state security; and Frolick, who is chair of the house committee in the National Assembly.

In April, the ANC’s top seven recommended that the three and Zizi Kodwa be removed from its list of candidates for parliament. But the national executive committee balked at this and all four remained on the list. Kodwa later resigned as an MP after being charged in the EOH bribery case.

There will be a meeting of the NEC that will discuss the integrity commission’s report on those found wanting on state capture. It will happen and [Mbalula] promised that

—  Snuki Zikalala, ANC Veterans League president

Zikalala said the NEC’s decision would be “remedied” in the coming weeks.

“All issues that relate to the integrity and dignity of the organisation, we have raised them… We had a thorough discussion on Zizi and [Mbalula] has taken action. On the other three, action will be taken against them,” Zikalala said.

“There will be a meeting of the NEC that will discuss the integrity commission’s report on those found wanting on state capture. It will happen and [Mbalula] promised that.”

Zikalala said the secretary-general had written “to the prosecutor to say take action against these three people”, Gigaba, Mahlobo and Frolick.

“The prosecutor must do it … So we are waiting for the outcomes,” Zikalala said.

During a media briefing on Thursday, Mbalula said The NEC has re-affirmed its stance on processing without delays all allegations of impropriety through the National Disciplinary Committee, particularly those arising from the state capture commission.

“As part of the continued renewal of the organisation, there will be a dedicated NEC meeting to implement the terms of reference of the integrity commission and to deal with outstanding integrity commission report issues” he said.

Acting ANC national spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi referred the Sunday Times to the above statement when asked for comment. "Everything else will officially flow from that meeting,' he said.

While Gigaba, Mahlobo and Frolick have not been charged in court and are technically not subject to the step-aside provision, senior ANC leaders believe the bar needs to be set high.

Mahlobo stands accused of bribing judges during his tenure as minister of state security.

The Zondo commission also zoomed in on Gigaba’s tenure as minister of public enterprises, accusing him of having had a close relationship with the Gupta family and participating in their schemes to capture the state. Frolick was fingered for allegedly dodgy dealings with Bosasa.

The veterans league president said Frank Chikane, the chair of the integrity commission, had complained that cases the commission had presented to the secretary-general’s office had not been discussed by the NEC.

Zikalala said it was the responsibility of the ANC’s top officials to make sure that reports by the body of elders are discussed and adopted by the NEC.

He said the last time an integrity commission report was presented to the NEC was shortly before the elections; but Mbalula had withdrawn it.

“When we asked, he said, ‘No, they said I must withdraw it.’

“As the NEC we were surprised,” Zikalala said.

He said Mbalula had also agreed to include party veterans Mac Maharaj and Mavuso Msimang in the disciplinary committee that will look into state capture.