Johannesburg - ANC members who are convicted of fraud, theft or corruption in future could be immediately expelled from the governing party.
This is the most radical amendment proposed to the party’s constitution at the weekend’s national executive committee (NEC) meeting held in Pretoria and is expected to be adopted at the party’s Mangaung conference.
City Press is in possession of a copy of the proposed new constitution.
It also lists money laundering, racketeering, receiving the proceeds of unlawful activities or financial impropriety as crimes for which members will be expelled instantly.
A task team led by Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Minister Collins Chabane has also included a clause that compels ANC comrades who are deployed in government to sign contracts with the ruling party.
This means they can be recalled if they do not perform their duties in line with the ANC’s rules.
The revised constitution closes the loopholes that were used by former ANC Youth League president Julius Malema during his disciplinary process.
It allows for the temporary suspension of members who were found guilty by the disciplinary committee, but are awaiting appeal.
Malema used this time to mobilise against Zuma.
The new rules state lawyers used in disciplinary hearings may not be paid and must commit to being available for a set period of time.
They are not allowed to delay cases because they have other commitments, as was the case with Malema’s lawyers.
The Freedom Charter will also be appended to the constitution to ensure the ANC takes ownership of it.
- City Press