As the 5pm deadline looms, all eyes are on the ANC
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) faces a deadline to submit its full cadre deployment records dating back to January 2013 to the main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). This development follows the recent rejection of the ANC’s final appeal bid by the Constitutional Court, upholding a High Court ruling that compels the party to release the records within five working days.
The cadre deployment system refers to the practice where political parties assign their members to positions within the government and other state entities. Critiques argue that such practices can undermine meritocracy, as party loyalty takes precedence over qualification and competence.
The origin of this legal battle can be traced back to the DA’s persistent demand for transparency within the ANC regarding their cadre deployment practices. Despite previous attempts by the ANC to withhold such information, arguing that it is an internal matter, the High Court ultimately ruled in favor of the DA’s right to access these records.
