Motlanthe said no vote buying or factionalism will be tolerated on the road to the 55th national elective conference

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe announces the official nomination process and rules towards the 55th national elective conference of the ANC due to take place from December 16, 2022. The former president was speaking at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House. Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency (ANA)

Former president Kgalema Motlanthe announces the official nomination process and rules towards the 55th national elective conference of the ANC due to take place from December 16, 2022. The former president was speaking at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House. Picture: Itumeleng English/African News Agency (ANA)

Published Aug 18, 2022

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The chairperson of the ANC electoral committee Kgalema Motlanthe has warned candidates that they would be held responsible for contravening any rules about campaigning.

The ANC will hold its 55th national elective conference from 16 to 20 December 2022.

Motlanthe was speaking during a media briefing yesterday in Luthuli House, to announce the official nomination process and rules towards the national elective conference.

The party confirmed that nominations for the ANC elective conference will open on 7 September.

Motlanthe said the NEC set up an electoral committee as resolved by the 54th conference to make rules for and manage selection of candidates for ANC public representatives, and leadership positions.

He said these rules were approved by NEC in July and time frames by NWC on 16 August.

Motlanthe said the resolutions are aimed to address weaknesses and manipulation of selection processes and make campaigning rules to deliver candidates and leaders with the capacity,

integrity and support needed to lead the ANC and government, Motlanthe said.

“Candidates will be held responsible for preventing actions by supporters and for their campaign teams abiding by these rules,” said Motlanthe.

He said no one may manipulate the outcome of nominations and elections by buying support by paying or offering services, positions, other rewards to branches and/or delegates for their vote for a particular candidate/s. No-one may offer or accept it.

Motlanthe cautioned about vote buying and factionalism ahead of the conference.

“The electoral committee has a mandate from the 54th conference to rid the ANC of negative and corrupt practices in leadership selection, vote buying and promotion of slates specifically.

No delegate should vote for leaders they do not know and respect. A short CV will be published for every candidate on the final nomination list.

“Campaigning and lobbying should be an open process where we are allowed to influence

each other and are influenced by others, within the rules and structures of the movement.

“The right to nominate and vote for leadership lies with ANC members and branches and we

should protect that right against corrupt practices that seek to manipulate and undermine

the democratic process. Delegates get their mandate from branches and must answer to

their branches if they voted ,” said Motlanthe.

He further said no one may use branded (with candidate’s name or face, campaign abbreviation) T-shirts, caps, vehicles, pamphlets, posters or other printed material to promote a candidate or group of candidates.

“No group of NEC candidates may campaign as an organised slate or list. Candidates may

express support for each other and attend campaign events together. No-one may

distribute lists or slates of officials and NEC members that delegates should vote for,” he said.

Clearly taking experience from the last conference, the ANC is outlining rules that have never been seen from the party.

Motlanthe added that no member or candidate may use any form of negative campaigning against another candidate or group of candidates..

“No group of NEC candidates may campaign as an organised slate or list. Candidates may

express support for each other and attend campaign events together. No-one may

distribute lists or slates of officials and NEC members that delegates should vote for,” he said.

Motlanthe said there would be consequences and objections if members violate any rules.

“Members may report any infringement of these rules to the electoral committee or whistle-blowing centre that will be active from the beginning of nominations.

“The electoral committee may refer the matter to an ANC DC and it could lead to the disqualification of a nominee.

“Any member involved in the prohibited activities may be suspended or expelled following a disciplinary process.

“The full financial record of every campaign must be submitted to the electoral committee.

“The committee has the right to demand further particulars and to inspect bank statements of candidates, campaigns and campaign workers and to interview campaign organisers,” said Motlanthe.

One would remember that from the 2017 conference, there were issues relating to the President Cyril Ramaphosa’s CR17 campaign, which went to the courts and the public protector had applied to have the bank statements unsealed but lost the battle.

“The electoral committee may order a full disclosure of all assets, properties, investments, donations and gifts of any member involved.

“This will require the full cooperation of the nominee.

“The committee may also open a criminal or civil case,” Motlanthe said.

He said all objections against candidates’ eligibility must reach the committee by October 15, and they must provide the contact details of the objector, name of the candidate and the grounds for objection and any available evidence.

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