Johannesburg – A number of ANC members who made it to the party’s Top 7 leadership positions, including re-elected President Cyril Ramaphosa, have a dark cloud hanging over their heads from alleged corruption and serious crime.

The Top 7 was announced on Monday on the fourth day of the 55th ANC national elective conference, Ramaphosa was re-elected as the president, Paul Mashatile Deputy President, Fikile Mbalula secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane 1st deputy SG, Maropene Ramokgopa 2nd DSG, Gwede Mantashe re-elected as chairperson and Gwen Ramokgopa as treasurer-general.

Ramaphosa, a leader who should be a good example and a fighter against corruption, is at the centre of an international scandal involving the theft of $4 million from his game farm, Phala Phala, in Limpopo.

In June this year, former spy boss Arthur Fraser opened a criminal complaint at Rosebank Police Station against Ramaphosa.

According to reports and EFF leader Julius Malema, two people suspected of being involved in the scandal have been killed.

Earlier this year, the state capture investigation found that Mantashe, who is Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, benefited from Bosasa's corrupt dealings.

Bosasa installed CCTV cameras at his homes in Boksburg and the Eastern Cape. Mantashe said he would take this on review.

Mokonyane was also fingered in one of the reports, which suggested that she lied when she testified on two occasions in 2020 during the commission.

The commission said there was evidence that Bosasa paid for Mokonyane’s 40th birthday bash and a broad range of benefits for her family members; however, she denied the allegations.

Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said he did not think anyone takes the Zondo commission seriously.

Seepe said most people implicated in state capture would be taking the report on review.

"What is clear is that members of the ANC are not bothered.

“They see the election as an internal matter with little relevance to what pertains outside the party," Seepe said.

Reputation Management expert Solly Moeng said there were two tracks on the Phala Phala saga, a political one where he survived but the country has to wait for the legal processes to unfold

"There are surprises that if the SARS and SARB are going to do what they must and tell South Africans the truth and not continue to give an impression that there’s a law for some and not for the others," said Moeng.

He further said, "Ramaphosa mustn’t think that the throne that he is sitting on is going to be firm enough to last until the next year. But for now, of course, he is the president, and he came out triumphant."

He said there is no way that Ramaphosa is going to lead the ANC; that is one of many things because there are people like Mokonyane and others who have dark clouds hanging over their heads.

"Mokonyane should not have been in the leadership. You are going to have people like her and others who also have dark clouds hanging over their heads. Can they discuss the criminal justice process? Can they discuss what must happen with the Zondo Commission report?

“When people inside the NEC itself, some of them have got reasons to be worrying … So it’s a very sad thing for South Africa because the ANC has not really cleaned itself.

"The problem with the ANC is that the pool from which it tends to look for leaders of South Africa is very limited. It is the same ANC pool, which over the years has been corrupt. There are very few individuals who don't have dark clouds hanging over their heads, but those are the people who are kept called back," he said.

Moeng also said the ANC delegates also needed to take responsibility because they are South Africans.

ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za

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