ANC Org Systems Disciplinary processes and ethics

30. SOCIAL DISTANCE:

NOTING

• The perception that ANC leaders are becoming a political elite removed from the people and that our movement no longer reflects the concerns and issues of the motive forces
• Our goal is to be truly representative of the people and this needs constant contact, humility, discipline, hard work, ubuntu, empathy and respect for the people

PROPOSALS

1. We must behave as servants of the people, not bosses or celebrities.
2. We need to urgently close the gap between us and the people; strive to be a progressive presence in every community and sector that listens to the people, works with them, responds to their concerns and problems, respects all people, and builds organisations and campaigns of the people. 
3. We need to avoid VIP enclosures, holding rooms, bodyguards and fancy cars that separate us from the people when we are going to meet them.
4. All leaders and public reps of the ANC must spend at least two days a week (at all times not just elections) on grassroots and branch work in the community. This should be done in consultation with the branch or sub-regional/zonal structures.

31. ANC CREDIBILITY AND INTEGRITY: DEALING WITH CORRUPTION

Noting

• An increase in corruption, factionalism, dishonesty, and other negative practices that seriously threaten the goals and support of the ANC
• That these practices contradict and damage our mission to serve the people and use the country’s resources to achieve development and transformation
• That corruption robs our people of billions that could be used for their benefit
• That the lack of integrity perceived by the public, has seriously damaged the ANC  image, the people’s trust in the ANC, our ability to occupy the moral high ground,  and our position as leader of society 
• That current leadership structures seem helpless to arrest these practices, either because they lack the means or the will, or are themselves held hostage by them
• At times we do things that are not according to ANC or government policy, or not legal or constitutional, and wait for courts to correct our actions 
• Our association with, and the closeness of our leaders to, business people facing allegations of corruption 
• That the ANC is endangered to the point of losing credibility in society and power in government
• That our leadership election processes are becoming corrupted by vote buying and gatekeeping
• That the state investigative and prosecutorial authorities appear to be weakened and affected by factional battles, and unable to perform their functions effectively

RESOLVES
That the 2015 NGC resolutions plus other existing and new measures are implemented urgently by the NEC and PECs to:

1. Strengthen our understanding of our values, ethics and morality and the demands that the people, the constitution and the rule of laws place on us as the guardians of the state, and its resources
2. Demand that every cadre accused of, or reported to be involved in, corrupt practices accounts to the Integrity Committee immediately or faces DC processes. (Powers of IC under constitutional changes)
3. Summarily suspend people who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down, while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures.
4. We publicly disassociate ourselves from anyone, whether business donor, supporter or member, accused of corruption or reported to be involved in corruption
5. All ANC members and structures should cooperate with the law-enforcement agencies to criminally prosecute anyone guilty of corruption
6. The ANC should respect the Constitution of the country and the rule of law and ensure that we get the best possible legal advice in government to ensure our compliance wherever possible, rather than waiting to defend those who stray. 
7. The ANC deployees to Cabinet, especially Finance, Police and Justice, should strengthen the state capacity to successfully investigate and prosecute corruption and account for any failure to do so
8. Secretaries at all levels will be held accountable for any failure to take action or refer matters of corruption or other negative conduct (in terms of ANC code of conduct) to the relevant structures.
9. Within the ANC nomination and election process: Ban all slates and enforce the ANC code of conduct and disciplinary procedures. Investigate and prosecute all cases of vote or support buying, or membership or branch gatekeeping. 
10. Implement the NEC resolution on state capture, including the expeditious establishment of a Judicial Commission of Enquiry.

32. INTEGRITY COMMITTEE

1. The establishment, composition, powers and functions of the Integrity Committee should be provided for in the ANC Constitution, to be finalised as soon as possible by the NEC.
2. Consideration should be given to the two options: whether the decisions of the Integrity Commission should be binding or whether they should make recommendations to the NEC, thus advisory. 

54^th National Conference agreed that the Integrity Commission must report directly to the NEC and to National Conference and NGC.

33. On Discipline

1. Introduce clear dispute resolution mechanisms to tackle organizational matters, to combat courts as the first resort for resolving conflicts and disputes. 
2. Whilst ANC members have the right to take any matter to court as South African citizens, this should be a last resort, after internal dispute resolution mechanisms have been exhausted. 

The relevant structures must investigate and act on allegations of gate-keeping, so that we restore the confidence of ANC members in the integrity of internal ANC processes and structures.