Several Eastern Cape ANC leaders have made it on to the ANC’s top 100 list as possible candidates for parliament.
Coming in at 97 was Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Andile Lungisa.
This was despite ANC Eastern Cape provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi declaring that members of the organisation who had a criminal record or who were of “questionable character” would not be allowed to be on the list for the provincial legislature or parliament.
Also set to make a return to politics if ANC members have their way is former president Jacob Zuma.
According to the list of nominees, Zuma’s name appears 74th on the list of party members nominated by various provinces for a seat in parliament.
Sources have confirmed the authenticity of the list, but say it has not been consolidated.
Names of nominees are ranked as per the number of votes they receive from the party’s branch members.
In total, 833 ANC members made it on to the list of potential members of parliament.
Other names of interest when it came to Eastern Cape ANC members were Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle (42nd), followed by public works MEC Pemmy Majodina and speaker in the legislature Noxolo Kiviet, at 45.
Kiviet said she had accepted the nomination because she was a disciplined member of the ANC.
“[The] ANC always determines and decides on where to deploy [its] members. I always accept ANC directives on my deployment. The elective term of 2014-2019 is coming to an end and as such the ANC is at liberty to deploy and redeploy any member,” she said.
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa came in at number one on the list.
Last week, Ngcukayitobi said people of “questionable character” would not appear on the list.
This included people found guilty of fraud and convicted criminals who had either been charged by the ANC or a court of law. It also included people facing disciplinary action by the ANC.
In April, Lungisa was found guilty of assaulting DA councillor Rano Kayser after he smashed a water jug over Kayser’s head during a heated council meeting in October 2016.
He was found guilty of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm and sentenced to two years in prison.
After serving just 16 days of his sentence, Lungisa was granted leave to appeal both his conviction and sentence in the Grahamstown High Court.
The party postponed its national list conference – supposed to have taken place from December 14 to 16 – amid allegations of voting manipulation.
The national list conference will now take place from January 4 to 6 in Ethekwini.
This will be followed by a meeting of the party’s national executive committee from January 6 to 7.