The ruling African National Congress on Tuesday received backing from the South African Communist Party (SACP) on its resolution to remove from office ANC members facing corruption charges until their cases are finalised in court.
The ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) resolved that leaders who are criminally charged should step aside within 30 days starting from the day the resolution was adopted at the end of March.
Announcing its support of the resolution, SACP national spokesperson Alex Mashilo said the step-side resolution must be implemented “wholeheartedly”.
“It is important for that resolution to be implemented wholeheartedly. In the communist party, those who do not do so, we will help them to step aside,” the SACP official said.
Mashilo added that the step-aside resolution should be welcomed to arrest the cancer of corruption that threatened the demise of the ANC in the same way it destroyed other liberation movements elsewhere on the continent.
“One of the things that immediately destroys former liberation movements when they ascend to power is corruption,” Mashilo said.
NM/jn/APA