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DA Issues Ultimatum to ANC's Mbalula Over Cadre Deployment Records

Published February 24, 2024
1 years ago

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has escalated its stand against the African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, with a stern ultimatum: comply with the court order involving the release of cadre deployment records or potentially face jail time. The showdown neatly encapsulates the ongoing battle for transparency within the ruling party structures and the political tension surrounding the legacy of state capture in South Africa.


Following a ruling by the Constitutional Court, the ANC was compelled to disclose documents related to its controversial cadre deployment policy, which has long been criticized for perpetuating patronage and affecting the efficiency of the public sector. The DA's contention is that the cache of documents provided by the ANC is woefully incomplete, citing deliberate omissions and redactions, particularly concerning correspondence with President Cyril Ramaphosa during his tenure as head of the ANC's cadre deployment committee.


John Steenhuisen, the DA’s leader, has put the matter in sharp focus, alleging that pivotal communications during a five-year period have been kept under wraps. This period is significant as it coincides with the time when President Ramaphosa chaired the Cadre Deployment Committee, which was during the years that state capture was reportedly at its zenith.


Steenhuisen's statement sheds light on several critical issues. The documents that were submitted are claimed to have been heavily redacted without lawful justification. Communications disseminated within the year 2020 have been restrictively handled, and some of the documents that were turned over are reported to be illegible.


Perhaps more damning is the insinuation by the DA that there has been intentional destruction of documents. Such actions, if proven, stand in violation of legal proceedings and could have grave consequences for the individuals involved. The leader of the DA alluded to the pursuit of criminal charges against ANC officials if it is substantiated that an orchestrated cover-up to erase connections to President Ramaphosa from the cadre deployment records occurred.


The contentious issue of the minutes from the cadre deployment committee meetings, which were reportedly not formally adopted, has also been flagged by the DA as a failure on the ANC's part to adhere to the court order. The comprehensive list of decisions taken by this committee, as directed by the court to be provided, is yet to be seen.


The timing of the DA’s legal notice is conspicuous. Coming just days before the ANC is set to unveil their elections manifesto, it adds a layer of political pressure on the party, projecting a message to the electorate regarding the opposition's stance on accountability and governance.


Drawing parallels to the case of former President Jacob Zuma, who was imprisoned for contempt of a Constitutional Court order, Steenhuisen warned that a similar fate could befall ANC officials should they continue to flout their legal obligations. The precedent set in Zuma's case represents a judicial line in the sand that the DA appears keen to remind the ANC of, as the political battle intensifies.


In the landscape of South African politics, this stand-off represents more than just a legal wrangle; it is indicative of the growing demand for transparency and effective governance. As the narrative of state capture continues to haunt the ruling party, the DA’s move to hold the ANC to account for its internal processes is emblematic of a broader quest for rectitude within the country’s political structures.


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