The ANC has instructed its members to refrain from wearing party regalia when showing support for members who are implicated in state capture.
In a statement following the 23 – 25 March National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting the ANC said “individual members have a right to express their sympathy and solidarity with the affected persons in the individual capacity, and not through any structures of the movement including the African National Congress (ANC) Leagues and the MKMVA.”
Although the NEC statement does not mention any member who may be implicated in state capture, the statement does come against the backdrop of the announcement by the Hawks that former president Jacob Zuma will be facing 16 charges including those relating to fraud, racketeering and corruption in the Durban High court on 6 April.
Secretary General, Ace Magashule added that members in their personal capacity may show support for those implicated but may not do so in their party insignia as to not create the impression that the party “approves of the misdemeanours of which any member or leader maybe accused”
Magashule further emphasised that those who may find themselves called by authorities who are dealing with the matter of state capture are proven innocent until proven guilty.
“The ANC wishes to reiterate its principled approach that persons so implicated should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise,” concluded Magashule.
