By: Zahid Jadwat

Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) and Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Gwede Mantashe, must step aside – if the ANC is to be consistent with its policies, says researcher Ebrahim Fakir.

Referring to the ANC’s ‘step aside’ resolution, the Director of Programmes at the Auwal Socio-Economic Research Institute (ASRI), Ebrahim Fakir, said: “If the ANC is consistent with what they believe, he has to step down”.

In the State Capture Report (Part 3), compiled by Acting Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Mantashe was implicated in corrupt dealings with Bosasa.

Mantashe accepted CCTV installations at his homes in Johannesburg and Cala, Eastern Cape, without payment.

“I don’t hold out much hope [because] it opens up major issues of consistency with dealing with the issues and I don’t see that happening,” Fakir told Radio Islam.

Fakir said Mantashe is likely attempting to employ Zuma’s “delay tactics”, considering that Mantashe said indicated that he will take the matter on judicial review.

He said: “What does Zuma do when these things crop up? Delay, [launch] appeals within appeals – Gwede Mantashe is trying to do this.”

Mantashe accused Zondo of making findings against him based on assumptions instead of facts.

Fakir believes that the ANC risks further factional battles: “It’s going to muddy the waters inside the ANC. The factions are going to realign [and] reform in ways that we don’t expect”.

Other senior ANC officials implicated in dealings with Bosasa include former President Jacob Zuma and Nomvula Mokonyane.

Listen to the full interview here: