Under RESOLVE PARAGRAPH 1, reads as thus: “To strengthen our understanding of our values, ethics and morality (OF THE ANC, my emphasis) and the demands that the people, the constitution and the rule of laws place on us as guardians of the state, and its resources“

[Webster on ethics, (at its simplest, ethics is a system of moral principles … ethics is concerned with what is good for individuals and society and is also described as moral philosophy. Ethical behavior includes honesty, integrity, fairness, and a variety of other positive traits).]

This paragraph 1 (under resolve) from this resolution on CREDIBILITY and INTEGRITY underlies the fact that the ANC and its membership have got a higher standard of accountability than any ordinary South African. This higher accountability emanates from the fact that “The demands that the people, the constitution and the rule of laws place on us (the ANC as the governing party) as guardians of the state, and its resources” charge us with a unique responsibility.

I, therefore, want to submit that the answerability of the governing party members with regard to their family involvement in government business is higher than that of the ordinary members of the society. It is my considered view that in clarifying to society how the family of those in charge of the state resources come to do business with the Government merely as a legal-rational on its own is not enough. I believe that the resolution is saying that we must strengthen our understanding of the ANC’s core values, ethics and morality is obligating us to account in a manner that secures the revolution the highest level of confidence it requires.

A mere legalistic response regarding the question at hand is not enough. At all material times, revolutionary ethics require that revolutionaries in charge of the state resources be seen to be acting honestly and fairly; thus my submission that our accountability is expected at a higher level than that of an ordinary societal member. We are expected to understand and empathize when people frown upon the incidents of our families’ involvement in Government business and commit to clarifying in a satisfactory manner.