By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@AlonSkuy.
The ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) has removed suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule from it’s special virtual meeting.
Magashule vowed to attend the special meeting during an interview with SABC on Friday. He insists that his suspension is invalid and that he still holds the office of secretary-general.
Several news outlets are reporting that the corruption-accused politician was given the boot from the meeting. It is unclear at this stage what the removal from the meeting means.
However, on the agenda for the special meeting is the party’s step aside resolution, the appeals process for implicated members, and of course, Magashule’s defiance to adhere to the policy.
During Magashule’s suspension, he has been barred from:
- Carrying out the duties and responsibilities of his office as secretary-general,
- Representing the organisation publicly and or in any other form,
- Making public pronouncements on matters related to the organisation, and
- Engaging in the mobilisation of ANC structures, any other organisations or individuals, including on your stepping aside and matters related thereto.
As a result, he was not allowed to attend the meeting at all and his removal is in line with the suspension.
Also during the interview Magashule hinted that he had the support of the ANCWL, singling out its secretary-general Meokgo Matuba as having voiced the league’s support for him.
But in a statement on Saturday morning, the women’s league distanced itself from Magashule.
“The ANCWL will not support any individual leader of the ANC but stands to reaffirm the entire collective leadership of the ANC and our confidence in them to deliver a better life for all especially women and other marginalised groupings.
Now, as the ANC NEC is currently meeting – Ramaphosa and his cohorts are likely to address Magashule’s alleged unbecoming conduct of a senior leader of the party.
According to insiders, Magashule has violated the ANC constitution. One of them said: “In the ANC, no individual has powers to suspend a member. It is only a structure that has powers to execute a suspension. In his case, it was the ANC national working committee that issued instructions for his suspension and others who are facing criminal charges in courts.
“Even the president does not have powers to suspend a member.”
Magashule was told to wait until his appeal had been finalised and the NEC meeting continues until Monday.