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Johannesburg — Presenting a report on the balances of forces at the National General Council on Saturday, National Executive Member Nathi Mthethwa said the ANC was facing serious challenges.

“We don’t need new inventions to deal with the challenges of the day, what we need is to look at what we said in 2012. Amongst other things, was that we’ve to fight corruption both as a perception and as reality,” said Mthethwa.

He said if the party failed to act on the perception on corruption then “the party would face serious challenges”.

“If we take action now we will be able to reverse some of the things that are happening,” he said.

On the integrity committee Mthethwa said, “The dilemma here is that we haven’t seen the results of the existence of the integrity committee.

“The committee should decide and not make recommendations to the NEC on whatever it’s dealing with because there is reluctance to act among the members of the NEC.

“Part of the frustration within the organisation is that there’l be an allegation against a leader and while the investigation continues and the person is still in their position continuing with their responsibility.

“That creates a problem because the negativity drags for a long period because it becomes a legal matter. By the end of it the image of the ANC rightly or wrongly, has been affected.”

Mthethwa said this was the reason why South Africans thought the ANC was corrupt.

“The point here is that we people are innocent until proven guilty. This has made it difficult for the integrity committee to do its job. And if a person steps down, there is an element of admission of guilt.

“We’re saying that whether you’re guilty or not, allow the processes to take place.”

In dealing with corruption, Mthethwa said, “In the past there was no individual that could be deemed corrupt, it was the entire system.

“We inherited a systematically corrupt system, in the process of introducing new ethos, you’re going to be tripped and those that are corruptible, will be corrupted by the system…

“There is a lot that has happened in dealing with corruption…”

About tenders, Mthethwa said, “We need to re-emphasise the values of our movement which are selflessness, humility and solidarity. If we stick to those values, you’ll do what you’ve to do.

“If you’re given a tender, you’ll build that school which you’ve been assigned to do. We need to go back to the basics. If we don’t do that we’re going to regret it.”

Meanwhile, further to calling for the reviewing and the regulation of private schools, the ANC Women’s League says the definition of a parent should be changed.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC National General Council in Midrand, secretary-general Moego Matuba, who has a child in a private school, said: “It’s not about what my child learns, it’s about having a syllabus that empowers everyone.

“The issue of not regulating is a problem because there’re so many private schools mushrooming up everywhere.

“We want the government to regulate them because it’s not about money, whatever they teach should be in line with the Department of Education,” she said.

“In addition to what we called for on Friday, we’re calling for the review of the South African Schools Act and the characterisation of parents should reflect the current structure of society.”

Matuba said the definition of “a parent” needs to change.

“We want to empower that particular legislation so that we can empower the grannies to be parents as well.

“We feel that majority of young kids when they go to school they’re being raised by their grandparents or extended family members.

“We’re saying the definition of parent, needs to be looked into because if a mother has passed on and a grandmother is looking after the grandchildren, the grandmother needs to be recognised as a parent or whoever is raising those children.

“We also need a learner assistance programme and social workers in schools to administer this programme.”

The league wants a social worker to be present in every school.

“The children need someone to talk to. And if this is done properly, we can reduce drug and substance abuse, alcohol and violence in schools.

“We were shocked to hear of instances of 7-year-olds being raped in schools and that’s why we want these social services to be provided in all our schools.” — Sapa