By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@AlonSkuy.
The ANC national working committee has instructed the secretary-general’s office to issue suspension letters to leaders who are facing charges of corruption and other serious crimes, including party secretary-general Ace Magashule.
On Tuesday afternoon, the party announced that it had “reaffirmed the decision” that all officials implicated and charged with corruption or other serious crimes need to step aside within 30 days after being charged.
Among the key people affected by the decision includes Magashule, former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede; KwaZulu-Natal deputy chairperson Mike Mabuyakhulu and several others.
However, the statement left little room for manoeuvre:
“The NWC received reports from provinces on members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes, the status of their matters, whether the affected members have been informed of the decision of the NEC, and whether they have stepped aside.”
The NWC reiterated the support of the ANC for the work of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture and commended the submissions made by the president, comrade Ramaphosa, and the national chairperson, comrade Gwede Mantashe, at the commission on behalf of the ANC.
The National Working Committee has resolved that the decision of the last NEC must be implemented, saying those who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes and who have not stepped aside should be suspended in terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC Constitution.
As a result, it is expected that Magashule will either have to step aside immediately or be suspended from his position.
“Where a public representative, office-bearer or member has been indicted to appear in a court of law on any charge, the Secretary General or Provincial Secretary, acting on the authority of the NEC, the NWC, the PEC or the PWC, if satisfied that the temporary suspension of such public representative, office-bearer or member would be in the best interest of the Organisation, may suspend such public representative, elected office-bearer or member and impose terms and conditions to regulate their participation and conduct during the suspension.”
The decision to suspend one of the most senior officials in the ruling party has been a tough one, dragging on for several weeks since the ANC made the decision at the end of March.