By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@AlonSkuy.
African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa has described suspended Secretary-General Ace Magashule’s conduct as shocking and unprecedented.
Ramaphosa told journalists yesterday, on the sidelines of a government event in Limpopo, that it was “a big surprise” for a secretary-general of the ANC to take “his own organisation” to court to have his suspension reversed.
He said Magashule should be the last person to question the constitutionality of the step-aside resolution.
Magashule filed court papers in the South Gauteng High Court last week, challenging his suspension from the party.
Magashule’s court action highlighted deep fractures in the party as it tries to clean up an image tarnished by graft allegations and prepares for upcoming local elections.
He asked the court to declare the ANC’s so-called “step-aside” rule as unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.
Ramaphosa is president of the ANC in addition to head of state, and was named as the first respondent in the litigation.
Magashule was suspended after being charged with corruption over a contract to audit homes with asbestos roofs when he was premier of Free State Province.
The matter is due again in court in August.
ANC president said tomorrow’s national working committee meeting of the ANC will have to deal with Magashule’s defiance of the national executive committee (NEC) instruction for him to apologise for “suspending” the president.
Magashule claims Ramaphosa’s faction within the party is targeting him for expulsion.
He accuses Ramaphosa of using selective justice to target him but this approach appears to signal that Magashule has lost support within the ANC and he’s been urged to attempt a revolt.
Earlier this week, Ramaphosa was equally frank in an interview with France24 in Paris when asked about Magashule’s battles with the party.
“When you are president, you are attacked by anybody. I carry on with my work,” Ramaphosa said.
The party executive agreed in March to add the “step-aside” rule to the ANC’s constitution as part of a tougher approach to members charged with corruption and other serious crimes to push them to vacate their posts within 30 days.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said the constitution of the party has been put to the test.
Mabe said, “The party is certainly not in crisis. Unfortunately, the constitution of the ANC has been taken on trial. The party has already issued a statement stating that it will be opposing the application by the Secretary-General. But when courts are then approached in the manner that they have been approached, the ANC ought to act to protect and defend its own constitution and also to protect and defend its own decisions.
The ANC is likely to institute the disciplinary procedures against Magashule for failure to apologise for his suspension letter against Ramaphosa in accordance with the party constitution.