By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC)’s disciplinary committee has expelled its former secretary general Elias Sekgobela “Ace” Magashule.
Magashule missed the deadline to oppose disciplinary findings against him.
Magashule was found guilty by the national disciplinary committee (NDC) last week for failing to apologise for his unilateral decision in 2021 to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa. He was given seven days to appeal the decision.
The National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) submitted two alternative counts. The charge sheet states that Magashule made “unsubstantiated allegation” in his letter suspending Ramaphosa by accusing the ANC president and the CR17 campaign team of raising money for his election.
The second alternative charge accuses Magashule of having contravened Rule 25.17.17 of the ANC constitution by making an utterance which prejudiced the integrity of the ANC and its operational capacity by creating divisions within its ranks and undermining its effectiveness.
The second charge relates to Magashule’s refusal to publicly apologise for suspending Ramaphosa.
Magashule was temporarily suspended from the party in May 2021 after he refused to step aside from his position. He faces corruption and fraud charges related to a R255-million asbestos tender in the Free State.
“After a guilty verdict by the NDC, comrade Ace Magashule was allowed to show cause why he should not be expelled from the ANC. Upon the lapse of seven days, the NDC had not received any representations to that effect,” said party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri in a statement.
“Consequently, the NDC confirmed the expulsion of comrade Ace Magashule from the ANC as a final sanction.”
Magashule is currently facing criminal charges relating to a R255-million Free State asbestos tender, one of the many questionable deals under his premiership in the province.
He could also face new legal challenges after Ramaphosa authorised a fresh investigation into transactions during his premiership in the Free State.
Ramaphosa signed a proclamation that gives the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) the green light to investigate several allegations, including those of serious maladministration and causes of fruitless and wasteful expenditure in the affairs of the Office of the Free State Premier when Magashule was at the helm.
The premier’s 2017/18 annual report by Magashule’s successor, Sisi Ntombela, states that the department had not disclosed prepayments relating to bursaries in accordance with National Treasury’s accounting guidelines.