Democratic Alliance Pursues Contempt Charges Against ANC for Cadre Deployment Record Gaps

In an escalating legal confrontation, the Democratic Alliance (DA) is set to lodge contempt charges against the African National Congress (ANC) due to a failure to fully disclose records of the cadre deployment committee while President Cyril Ramaphosa was at the helm. DA leader John Steenhuisen announced this fresh legal approach following a High Court decision that dismissed their application to declare the controversial policy unconstitutional. Steenhuisen insists that the transparency battle is far from being settled.

The DA has highlighted that the records submitted by the ANC, albeit within the Constitutional Court deadline, were heavily redacted and thus contravened the specific order of the apex court. The alleged absence of detailed documentation, including emails and WhatsApp messages, from the period Ramaphosa chaired the committee adds to DA’s concern.

Steenhuisen’s determination is illustrated by the threat to press for an urgent ruling that may enforce prison time, reminiscent of the sanction imposed on former President Jacob Zuma for his non-compliance with a Constitutional Court order. Furthermore, the DA's leader raised the specter of criminal charges against ANC officials purportedly responsible for obliterating evidence in what the DA perceives to be a cover-up operation.

Despite these severe allegations, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has defended the ANC's policies, drawing parallels to similar practices within the DA-led municipalities. The ANC maintains that it has adhered to the Constitutional Court's directive, promising to furnish explanations for any record-keeping discrepancies. Moreover, the party anchors its stance in the broader context of international norms, referencing an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development assessment that political cadre deployment is commonplace across democracies globally.

The DA’s contention over cadre deployment—placing party affiliates into strategic positions within the public sector—signals an intense political clash over governance ideology and transparency. For the DA, this case represents an ethical linchpin for South African democracy, while the ANC stands by the policy as a legitimate tool for policy implementation.

As the legal strategies unfold, the issue promises to shape national discourse on the intersection between party politics and public service, laying bare the starkly divergent interpretations of lawful governance between two of South Africa's leading political entities.