Mbalula: ANC candidates underwent rigorous selection processes

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) said nominees of it’s parliamentary candidates list, underwent a rigorous selection process over the course of eight months.

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula addressed the media on the finalisation of the party’s candidate list at a briefing in Johannesburg on Monday.

This follows the leaking of the details and names of 200 nominees of the governing party’s candidate list by an Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) insider.

Mbalula said that the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) deliberated over the names of 16 candidates, which includes President Cyril Ramaphosa, who were mentioned in a report by compiled by the integrity commission.

The report included the names of those implicated in the Zondo Commission into State Capture.

He said that there were adverse findings against nine of the 16 candidates, but that its internal processes did not take precedent over recommendations made by the Zondo Commission.

"Three candidates are eligible to stand as ANC candidates following their finalisation of their reviews, appeals or other processes. Two candidates are not eligible to stand."

He added that there are no adverse findings against Ramaphosa and ANC National Chair, Gwede Mantashe, contained in the integrity commission's report, making them both eligible to stand as candidates.

"Zondo has made specific recommendations about specific people, that they must be investigated. If people are arrested, the ANC will act on that, like we have done."

ANC Electoral Committee Chair Kgalema Motlanthe said those mentioned in the Zondo report had to plead their case to the integrity commission.

"If you explain to the integrity commission as to why you are mentioned in the report, the integrity commission then makes a recommendation to the National Executive Committee."