This is according to integrity committee chairperson, George Mashamba, who told News24 that the committee had no powers to summon him in order to assess the impact that claims made against him had on the governing party.

His comments follow a decision by the NEC to refer its entire list of candidates nominated to serve in the National Assembly and in provincial legislatures to the integrity committee.

Magashule has defended the inclusion of Bathabile Dlamini, Nomvula Monkonyana, and Malusi Gigabaha on the party's lists, despite being implicated in state capture.

The committee serves to investigate the impact of members' behaviour on the party's reputation.

Previously, the ANC had said it wanted to submit some names to the committee but failed to follow through.

Review

The party has been lambasted for allowing some of its controversial leaders – who are facing allegations of corruption and who have been implicated during the commission of inquiry into state capture – to feature on the list, which has already been submitted to the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC).

The ANC, in a statement following a special NEC sitting, said the lists would be sent to the committee for a "review".

In a statement, Magashule said the ANC had gone above and beyond the legal requirements set out by the country's Constitution.

"The ANC set an even higher bar, removing all candidates with criminal records (not just for five years, but longer) and subjected all its candidates to a vetting process," he said.

While insisting that South Africans had expressed happiness with the party during its door-to-door campaigns, he said they wanted the list to represent the ANC's "spirit of renewal and integrity".

"As a further measure, therefore, the NEC has referred its lists in their totality to its integrity [committee] for review, within the ambit of the list guidelines, the rules of natural justice and the 54th conference resolutions," said Magashule.

News24