ANC NEC shows its hand as it says Ace must apologise, or else

It’s been a week of high drama for ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule — a temporary suspension from the organisation he administratively leads, followed by a removal from its top structure’s crucial online meeting, and now the ANC wants him to apologise for “suspending” party president Cyril Ramaphosa without the authority to do so.

The ANC has also confirmed that his deputy Jessie Duarte will carry out the secretary-general functions in Magashule’s absence.

“The NEC reaffirms its full confidence in our deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte and supports her in carrying out her duties as per the ANC constitution,” said Ramaphosa on Monday while delivering his closing remarks to the three-day meeting.

Ramaphosa revealed that the meeting discussed the “letter of suspension” Magashule wrote him last week, for which he had no authority or mandate from any structure of the movement.

“The NEC agreed that such conduct was completely unacceptable and a flagrant violation of the rules, norms and values of the ANC,” he said.

“The NEC furthermore instructed the officials to advise the secretary-general to apologise publicly to ANC structures and members within a set time frame.

“If he fails to do so, the ANC will institute disciplinary procedures in accordance with the ANC constitution,” said Ramaphosa.

If he fails to do so, the ANC will institute disciplinary procedures in accordance with the ANC constitution.

—  ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa

He said the NEC received a report from the national working committee (NWC) on the implementation of the resolution that all ANC members indicted for corruption and other serious crimes should step aside or be temporarily suspended pending the finalisation of their cases.

The report indicated that, in line with the decisions of the NEC meeting of March 26 to 29 March, a number of ANC members had stepped aside and others had been served with notices of suspension, he said. These included Magashule and NEC member Bongani Bongo.

Ramaphosa said the past weekend’s meeting confirmed the terms and conditions for elected office bearers and public representatives who have stepped aside or been temporarily suspended, and these included that during the step aside period, such an individual may not:

• carry out the duties and responsibilities of their office;
• represent the organisation publicly or in any other forum;
• make public pronouncements on matters related to the organisation;
• engage in the mobilisation of ANC structures, any other organisations or individuals;
• During the step aside period a public representative may not occupy any executive office or other position of responsibility in the legislature to which they belong. Despite this, the members will be entitled to remuneration and other benefits; and
• The decision to step aside must be reviewed by the relevant structure of the organisation every six months.

Magashule was suspended last Monday in a letter by Duarte, acting upon the instruction of the NWC.

This, after the party’s NEC gave him 30 days to voluntarily “step aside” or face suspension at criminal charges related to a contract to audit homes with asbestos roofs when he was premier of the Free State.

In response, Magashule announced on Wednesday night that he had summarily suspended Ramaphosa, in line with the party’s resolution on members accused of or reported to be involved in corrupt practices.

He also announced that he was appealing his suspension, which he described as unconstitutional. This action would also “wholly suspend” his suspension, until his appeal has been heard and its final outcome announced, he said.

Magashule defiantly told journalists that he was still the party’s secretary-general and that he would attend its virtual meeting held at the weekend.

He was booted from that meeting on Saturday morning, an indication that his backing in the NEC was not as strong as some may have thought.