ANC's zero tolerance
2005-06-24 08:33
Sue Segar and Nalini Naidoo
Cape Town - The African National Congress will adopt a "zero tolerance" approach to corruption - no matter who it involves.
This was the commitment made by ANC chief whip Mbulelo Goniwe on Thursday, when he announced that the five serving ANC members of parliament who pleaded guilty to fraud with parliamentary travel vouchers have resigned from parliament.
Addressing a media briefing following a meeting of the ANC caucus at parliament, Goniwe said the ANC has welcomed the decision by the five members - Ruth Bhengu and Pamela Mnandi, Mildred Mpaka, Rhoda Joemat and Mavis Magazi - to resign.
"We view in a serious light the reasons for the resignation of the members and regard their decision as a demonstration of remorse. Accordingly we commend them for putting the interests of both the organisation and parliament first," Goniwe said.
The chief whip said President Thabo Mbeki told the morning caucus meeting that the ANC has "no equal" as a liberation movement and is held in high esteem by the world.
"There is a huge challenge to the ANC not to betray that confidence and a specific obligation on members of the ANC to really carry themselves and behave in a manner befitting cadres of a movement like the ANC.
"Mbeki said there is no way that the ANC can be the midwife of the Constitution we are so proud of and be at the forefront of undermining that Constitution and the structures it created," Goniwe said.
Asked how the ANC can reconcile its zero tolerance approach to corruption with the "Oilgate" allegations hanging over new deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Goniwe said that while a process is under way to test the allegations, untested allegations should not detract from the rights of people to be appointed to new positions.
Asked if the resignations by the five ANC members will set a precedent for the 21 other MPs facing similar charges in connection with travel voucher fraud, Goniwe said it does set a precedent.
Prosecution
Asked if the ANC is comfortable keeping on the MPs who still face prosecution in parliament pending their prosecution, Goniwe said: "I have no legal basis, no justification, to come to a conclusion that people alleged to have done something, have no basis to come here".
Goniwe said the departing MPs will be replaced by those who follow them on the ANC list.
Bhengu said from her home yesterday that resigning from parliament does not mean she has resigned from the political struggle and community work.
She said it is unfortunate that she has to leave parliament, but parliament is just one structure that can change the lives of people.
Democratic Alliance chief whip Douglas Gibson said the resignations were "not before time".
"The DA's view is that persons charged with serious criminal offences should be suspended and those who are convicted should be removed from parliament immediately. People who steal the public's money cannot be allowed to remain in parliament," Gibson said. - The Witness