Political analyst Lukhona Mnguni has indicated that a loophole has been created to bypass the African National Congress’s (ANC) step-aside resolution. In a special meeting in March, the ANC’s NEC resolved to allow members facing criminal charges and who have stepped aside to attend sittings in legislative bodies and committees. This decision is detailed in a letter signed by the party’s Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula. This move follows criticism after former Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa was sworn in as a member of Parliament for the ANC on Tuesday despite facing corruption charges.
Kodwa appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court earlier this month.
Mnguni says, “It appears in this instance, somebody has created some loophole because effectively, there’s no integrity committee report on Zizi Kodwa that prevents him from being sworn in as a member of parliament.”
“Legally, of course, there’s nothing wrong with him being sworn in, but I think as part of what you may deem the renewal process of the ANC, there’s no doubt in my mind that the ANC is always going to struggle to do this renewal because the stock of cadreship it has is not one that is inspiring, untainted,” he explains.
“Once the controversy surrounding the government of national unity that the ANC is putting together has subsided, the party will need to return to its organizational discipline and ask itself serious questions. There’s a possibility that we might see Zizi Kodwa having to step aside from Parliament once again.”
