By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The ANC in the Free State has described suspended party secretary-general Ace Magashule attendance of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Freedom Charter celebrations as irresponsible and set a bad example to members.
In a video shared by the party, Magashule can be seen in the company of EFF members, including Dali Mpofu and Marshall Dlamini.
“Suspended secretary-general of the ANC Ace Magashule with the EFF leadership at Walter Sisulu Square observing Freedom Charter Day. The EFF is the only organisation that observed this historic day in the history of the liberation struggle,” the EFF captioned the video.
In a statement, the ANC’s Free State interim provincial committee said it had noted with concern the conduct of Magashule in attending the EFF event.
“Such conduct can only be accepted if it is sanctioned by the organisation in pursuit of its political interests, “said the committee.
“The secretary-general is one of the highest positions in the organisation whose integrity has to be protected at all costs. The fact that he is suspended does not disqualify him from upholding the organisational discipline and other principles that must be observed by all members.
The party in the Free State has been troubled by disputes for several years since the departure of Magashule to the national office in 2017.
The province has a temporary structure in place, which had been conducting a membership audit and aims to hold a provincial conference in September.
The interim committee described Magashule’s visit to the EFF as one of several tendencies that had destroyed the party in the province