Members of the African National Congress (ANC) who have been involved in the VBS Mutual Bank crisis and the State Capture report have been boldly called upon by the ANC Veterans League to resign from their posts. This daring action is unprecedented. In light of the impending elections, the public expects the African National Congress (ANC) to resolve the corruption claims leveled against it. This drive comes as the party is under increasing pressure to do just that.
Parliamentarians and other government officials embroiled in the VBS affair and the widespread disclosures from the State Capture report by the Zondo Commission are the primary targets of the appeal from the Veterans League, which represents senior and long-serving ANC members. Two members of the ANC’s parliament and one deputy minister are among those who have been implicated in various reports and investigations.
Among the many high-profile financial crises that rocked South Africa in the years after apartheid, the VBS Mutual Bank affair stands out. The Venda people of Limpopo were the principal customers of VBS, a little bank. Senior bank executives, politically connected people, and municipal officials were implicated in fraudulent operations that sucked billions of rands out of the bank, as was exposed in 2018. The people was outraged since the controversy involved many ANC members who were suspected of taking bribes or stealing money.
When VBS went bankrupt, the public monies that municipalities in Limpopo and other provinces had unlawfully placed went missing. The demise of VBS rendered several towns incapable of delivering essential services, and these activities were in flagrant disregard of regulations controlling local budgets.
The ANC has been deeply affected by the VBS affair. There have been demands for action and responsibility after investigations implicated several prominent party members. Some of the implicated have kept their jobs in government and Parliament despite public outcry, which has led some to believe that the ANC is not committed to fighting corruption.
Numerous ANC members have been accused in the Zondo Commission’s investigation into State Capture, which was established to probe claims of widespread corruption during the presidency of Jacob Zuma. Corruption involving powerful politicians and corporate interests drained state-owned companies including Eskom and Transnet, according to the Commission’s final report from 2022.
Several current and past officials should be probed and perhaps punished for their involvement in the theft of public funds, according to the Commission’s findings. Notable figures from Zuma’s government, including two ANC members of parliament and a deputy minister, were identified.
According to the report, the officials involved should resign so that investigations and prosecutions can continue without interference. This would be in accordance with the ANC’s internal “step aside” rule, which states that party members facing serious criminal charges should temporarily resign from their positions.
In an effort to win back the public’s trust, the ANC is purging itself of members implicated in corruption, and the ANC Veterans League’s latest drive is only one piece of the puzzle. When it comes to party ethics and responsibility, the Veterans League has long been a loud voice calling for change. Party senior statesmen are becoming more frustrated with what they see as the sluggish pace of action against those accused in major crimes, and their newest involvement is a reflection of that anger.
The Veterans League made it clear in a statement that the ANC’s capacity to show its dedication to clean government and the rule of law determines the party’s destiny and, by implication, South Africa’s future. They have cautioned that the ANC’s legitimacy and credibility would be severely damaged if they do nothing to punish those responsible.
This is a pivotal time for the ruling ANC party in South Africa as the ANC Veterans League has called for the resignation of ministers and MPs who are implicated. A major test for the ANC will be whether or not it is prepared to confront corruption head-on in the face of rising public discontent. The future of the ANC and the country are heavily dependent on whether or not the party listens to the Veterans League’s request.
