Money lust ‘threatens to split the ANC’
Senior officials are breaking the tradition of closing ranks and expressing their concern about how the party is now seen as a way to secure state contracts and jobs
The pursuit of money among some members of the ANC is becoming so intense that senior officials say it is threatening to split the ruling party and damage its ability to govern. The former liberation movement is now increasingly seen as an avenue to secure state contracts and jobs, with routine reports of bribery to win positions. The issue has become so worrying that some senior officials are breaking the party’s tradition of closing ranks to deal with internal problems by speaking out. "Leadership contests are accompanied by practices such as gate-keeping, vote buying, electoral fraud and even violence," Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a speech in January. "We must face the reality that much of the factionalism in our movement is rooted in a competition for access to resources." The manipulation of government appointments has undermined the state’s ability to deliver education, housing and other services. As much as 40% of the R600bn budget for goods and services is consu...
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