The infamous 23 people on the ANC’s parliamentary list who were red-flagged by the party’s integrity committee are all ANC deployees. It is therefore appropriate to regard them as employees doing a job or work for the ANC. The party list system ensures that they serve at the pleasure of their party and will not be allowed in law to do so if their party membership is terminated. 

In labour law there is a well-established practice called “precautionary suspension”. It is a device available, even without a hearing, that enables the employer (the ANC) to suspend employees (parliamentarians) who are reasonably suspected of wrongdoing to enable them to face criminal trial, disciplinary procedures or other court proceedings or even just be given the space in which they would be able to definitively clear their names and dissolve the cloud of suspicion under which they find themselves...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.