Integrity commission to probe Buffalo City leaders

THE Eastern Cape ANC has referred the case of senior Buffalo City leaders facing charges of defrauding funds for Nelson Mandela's memorial services to a newly formed integrity commission.

The commission was established yesterday and some of its members introduced to the party's provincial executive committee at a meeting at Calata House in King William's Town.

Its establishment comes 18 months after the ANC, at its national conference in Mangaung, resolved to set up the integrity commission at all levels of the organisation. Buffalo City mayor Zukiswa Ncitha, her deputy Temba Tinta, council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, senior councillor Sindiswa Gomba as well as BCM regional secretary Phumlani Mkolo were arrested last month for their alleged involvement in the R5.9-million Mandela memorial scandal.

They are out on bail of R10000 each and expected back in court on September 1.

But before that they may have to present themselves before the nine-member commission chaired by former Eastern Cape Education MEC and ANC MP Professor Shepard Mayathula.

Other members include respected cleric and former Eastern Cape Council of Churches provincial secretary the Reverend Mcebisi Xundu, University of Fort Hare vice-chancellor Mvuyo Tom and Port Elizabeth-based Depuo Kondile.

ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed the formation of the commission.

"There are a lot of cases before the courts which implicate ANC members and that includes the BCM arrests.

"The commission will have to deal with all these cases including ones that are not necessarily in court, but misconduct cases which bring the ANC's name into disrepute," Mabuyane said.

"The BCM case is one of the priorities but not the only one the committee will have to deal with.

"For now we are working hard to ensure we recruit enough people to have the correct gender balance and minimum of nine names as required in the ANC constitution as amended in Mangaung.

"This committee, which comprises ANC veterans who are very independent and have integrity, will be tasked to make recommendations to the PEC.

"It's a committee we hold in high regard to give us informed guidance on how to deal with a lot of cases."

A decision to form the provincial integrity commission was taken last Monday – the day the Buffalo City regional leaders were arrested.

It came after party leaders met them at a beachfront hotel, where PEC officials advised them to "step aside" to protect the ANC from embarrassment.

None have taken leave of absence.

Mabuyane said two more women were in the process of being identified to form part of the commission before it could start its job in earnest. - Zine George