Axed ANC secretary-general and former Free State premier Ace Magashule on Wednesday laid his cards on the table, showing his hand as he unveiled his own political party — African Congress of Transformation (ACT) — in Vilakazi Street, Soweto.
The new party is nothing of a surprise and promises what many ANC breakaway parties have done before: an alternative to the ruling party.
With the use of the signature ANC black, green and gold colours on its logo, ACT added some of the EFF flavour to its image with a red border. This is a clear indication that the footprint of the ANC will undoubtedly show itself in ACT.
“We are a new political party, and we call ourselves ‘a people’s party’ because we are about people and we will rise and fall on behalf of the people,” Magashule said. He said the party aimed to “challenge all forms of oppression, discrimination and injustice” and stressed it was a home for the “politically abused”.
Magashule boldly stated that in his party, he will act against corruption in South Africa.
As ACT’s mission statement includes fighting corruption, the party has already failed as Magashule walks around with a cloud of corruption allegations hanging over him, which are impossible to ignore.
Magashule’s alleged dubious affairs run deep, with allegations of his son Tshepo Gift Magashule being embroiled in Gupta dealings and his daughter’s questionable fuel station purchases from the Free State development corporation.
Magashule and his entourage — including the likes of Berning Ntlemeza, who was present at the announcement of ACT — are undoubtedly putting up an act as victims of the system when they themselves have failed to clear their names.
Magashule and his entourage — including the likes of Berning Ntlemeza, who was present at the announcement of ACT — are undoubtedly putting up an act as victims of the system when they themselves have failed to clear their names.
We have not forgotten about the millions which were squandered in his time as premier of the Free State. We have not forgotten about thousands of houses, which until this day, stand with asbestos roof tops which slowly eat at the health and kill the people that Magashule was meant to have fought for.
His record speaks for itself.
He has failed to serve the people of the Free State with honour and dignity, what more an entire nation?
On Ntlemeza — a former Hawks boss — a similar script plays out. We have not forgotten about how, just a few years ago, he was embroiled in controversy, and in 2015, high court judge Elias Matojane ruled that Ntlemeza “lacks integrity and honour”, after it was found he had made false statements under oath in a labour court matter involving former Gauteng Hawks head Shadrack Sibiya.
Ntlemeza was removed as Hawks boss in April 2017, after the North Gauteng high court upheld a previous ruling that declared his appointment invalid and unlawful.
Magashule’s act of arrogance is also another point that one cannot ignore. Despite his failures of the Free State, he boldly boasted that the province of Free State is already in the bag for his new political party.
He also downplayed the ongoing asbestos corruption case against him, saying it will be fruitless.
“All these manufactured lies and fabricated cases, you will see, and I so wish that case which has been postponed until April gets in so that I am in the dock. “You will then hear who is corrupt and who is not corrupt,” he said.
As the list of parties on the ballot paper for the 2024 elections grows, South Africans are still lacking an opposition party that is not created from egos and “stomach politics”. They are in need of selfless leaders who are eager to get the country out of the major crisis we find ourselves in.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.