Johannesburg - The ANC’s Electoral Committee (EC) has committed to investigating allegations of vote buying during the recent 55th ANC National Conference at Nasrec, south of Johannesburg.
The committee, led by chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe, promised on Tuesday to investigate allegations against President Cyril Ramaphosa, Gwede Mantashe, and treasurer-general-hopeful Bejani Chauke.They are accused of using money to influence the outcome of the recent elective conference held in Nasrec from December 16 to 20, 2022.
The allegations have been brought to light in a letter penned by an eThekwini ward 30 branch member and delegate, Thabang Mdletshe.
On Monday, Mdletshe, in a letter to Motlanthe, accused some of the candidates for the leadership positions in the ANC top seven, of having influenced the election through the buying of delegates, which newly-elected ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe has publicly acknowledged.
Mdletshe, citing a recent interview on eNCA where ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe alluded to certain leaders having promised money to influence the outcome of the conference, wrote to the EC requesting that the committee investigate the allegations.
The letter came after Mantashe confirmed reports on vote buying at the conference, during an interview with eNCA news anchor Tumelo Mothotoane. Mantashe admitted to being offered money in exchange for voting for certain delegates.
Spokesperson for the ANC’s electoral committee, Chief Matsila, has acknowledged the concerns about vote buying. He said the EC would investigate the matter in the new year.
“Kindly note that the EC is in recess and shall resume work on January 5, 2023. Due to the nature of the allegations raised in your report, the EC shall ensure that your complaint is thoroughly dealt with, and you shall be kept informed.
"In the meantime, we humbly request that you furnish the EC with any available evidence at your disposal, in addition to the televised interview, to support these allegations," Matsila said.
He said that as soon as the resumption of duties began, all top seven candidates would be called in and questioned.
"Upon resumption of duty, the EC shall request all comrades who were candidates for the 55th National Conference to submit their final financial disclosures on campaign funding and expenditure. The EC shall henceforth scrutinise the financial disclosures on campaign funding expenditures and make a final determination on compliance with the electoral rules in respect of each candidate.
"Finally, the EC shall submit a close-out report to the NEC, which may include matters to be referred to the National Disciplinary Committee and/or Integrity Commission where necessary," Matsila added.
Mdletshe stated that on December 20, while newly-elected ANC chairperson Comrade Gwede Mantashe was being interviewed live at Nasrec by Mothotoane, Mantashe admitted that some members were accused of buying votes or promising delegates money in exchange for votes.
"I can tell you. If there is one battle we almost lost, it is the battle and fight against money. You know, in the past, we had this thing that money was used and so forth. This time around, you find people, at the branch level and at the regional level, phoning you: ‘I have this number of delegates; please give me so much money,’" Mantashe told Mothotoane.
In the same interview, Mantashe accused a certain ANC member, who had campaigned for the position of treasurer general, of having offered money to delegates in order to secure the position.
He said it was fortunate that this ANC member was not elected to the top seven.
Mdletshe’s letter, dated December 26, 2022, was addressed to Motlanthe, and alleged vote buying by members of the top seven, among them, Ramaphosa, Mantashe and Chauke.
Mdletshe requested that the electoral committee investigate the matter and make its findings on or before January 3, 2023.
The KZN delegate and branch member said the purpose of the letter was for the EC to establish the veracity of reports and incidents of vote buying and alleged infringement of some of the rules governing the committee and the election of ANC leaders during elective conferences.
"Request the EC to investigate the alleged infringement of the buying of votes and/or offering of rewards for votes during the 55th ANC Elective Conference. Following investigations conducted by the EC, it is prayed that the EC disqualifies the candidate(s) concerned, namely President Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, comrade Samson Gwede Mantashe, comrade Bejani Chauke, and such other candidates as determined by the EC," Mdletshe said in the letter.
Mdletshe recommended that after the investigation, there should be a disciplinary process against those found to have violated the party’s rule books.
He added that the culprits should be referred to the SAPS and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
The Star