ANC CONDEMNS LEAKING OF DISINFORMATION TO MEDIA

The African National Congress (ANC) has noted media reports attributed to "sources," an unnamed "party official" or "a senior member of the NWC" following the recent National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Johannesburg, said to have debated the appointment by President Jacob Zuma of "minorities" to key economic posts (see article).

Not only is the practice of leaking internal information to the media unethical, but it also demonstrates a dangerous practice by those bent on misrepresenting the context of discussions within official ANC structures. This creates a fertile ground for public disinformation, something the ANC strongly condemns.

We, therefore, condemn the motives of any person - whether within or outside the ANC - who saw it fit to misrepresent a discussion that took place in the NWC. The ANC NWC distances itself from information leaked to the media, attributed to its members.

Official ANC structures, which include the NWC, will continue to discuss any issue or matter of national importance. Any discussions, decisions or resolutions taken by ANC structures are always communicated to the public through official channels and not through leaks, a practice the ANC does not subscribe to.

Statement issued by Jessie Duarte, African National Congress national spokesperson, August 13 2009

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