The stalwarts of the African National Congress (ANC) said on Wednesday that “the real culprits who are bringing the ANC into disrepute must be confronted”.

This follows a recent statement from the ANC calling for some members to appear before an internal disciplinary hearing for bringing the party into disrepute in the aftermath of the holding of a no confidence vote in Parliament in President Jacob Zuma.

However, the stalwarts are questioning the motive behind such a call.

ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe has recently given MP Derek Hanekom notice to give reasons within ten days why he should not be removed as chairperson of the disciplinary committee after he tweeted against State capture.

The stalwarts also questioned why Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) chairperson Kebby Maphatsoe was not summoned to a disciplinary hearing for a recent statement in which he referred to ANC MPs who voted in favour of the no confidence motion against President Jacob Zuma as “poisonous snakes”.

The ANC stalwarts responded that they knew who should actually stand before a disciplinary committee.

“It is a list that every honest member of the ANC, the Alliance, supporters and the general electorate would agree on.

“However, we live in strange times when it is necessary to consistently state the obvious for those for whom the obvious does not serve their own self-centered needs,” they said is a statement.     

The stalwarts also questioned why ANC MP Dr Makhosi Khoza was removed as chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration and why she now faces disciplinary action.

“Why is this happening when no action is taken against those in the Executive who have consistently misled Parliament, the ANC and the nation - from Nkandla, with fake bonds, fire pools; through the SASSA social grants crisis and a host of other issues, including a complete failure to understand the critical role the ANC and its members must play in the fight for zero tolerance against gender violence,” they asked.
 
The stalwarts went on to state that they were committed to the historical values and principles of the movement and called on all structures of the ANC to show principled unity to ensure that State capture, corruption and graft were confronted.

“It is our right as members of the ANC to demand that those who have failed our country and the ANC are exposed and that appropriate action is taken against them. This will be an important step in restoring the legitimacy of our movement in the eyes of an ever increasingly alienated electorate,” the stalwarts said.