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Ace Magashule, secretary general of the ANC, faces a series of corruption allegations related to a controversial multi-million dollar asbestos contract in the Free State during his tenure as prime minister.
ANC SG Ace Magashule at an NEC meeting in Irene on April 1, 2019. Image: Abigail Javier / EWN
JOHANNESBURG – With just two days left for the secretary general of the African National Congress (ANC), Ace Magashule, to surrender to the police, the ANC in the Free State has called on its members to calm down.
Magashule faces a series of corruption allegations related to a controversial multi-million dollar asbestos contract in the Free State during his time as prime minister.
• READ: Hawks confirm arrest warrant issued for Magashule
Free State ANC spokesman Thabo Meeko said the party would not tolerate corruption but also would not allow a high-ranking member to be targeted.
“We are not defending corruption, we are defending principles and where we believe that an ANC leader is under attack, the ANC structures will rise up in defense of that leader.”
Meeko has asked members to allow the law to run its course and not prejudge the outcome.
• READ ALSO: The enemy has infiltrated the ANC, says Magashule
Meanwhile, the MKMVA is also expected to support Magasule outside the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday, when it is due to make its first appearance.
‘I HAVE DID NOTHING WRONG’
Magashule said Tuesday that he had done nothing wrong and maintained that he had not violated the law despite an arrest warrant.
There were initial reports in October of an arrest warrant for Magashule, but the National Tax Authority (NPA) denied it.
• OPINION: South Africa faces a corruption crisis
Magashule later warned against “Hollywood-style” arrests. He said his lawyers would speak to the NPA, but this time they did not turn to Hollywood.
“I’ll talk to my lawyers, he’s been coming the whole time, I’m not worried at all. The fighting continues, I have done nothing wrong as a law-abiding South African citizen, ”he said.
At the same time, the ANC in the Free State shot out, saying that people who had robbed in the province should be prosecuted.
ALSO READ: ANC at FS calls for prosecutions
The party briefed the media on Tuesday afternoon in Bloemfontein ahead of its Wednesday march to condemn corruption in the controversial illegal asbestos project.
Mxolisi Dukwana of the ANC said Magashule should prove her innocence and that no one was above the law.
“It’s something to deny any wrongdoing, but it’s also something that really, as a responsible person, at some point, you need to stand up and be honest with yourself,” Dukwana said.
Additional information from Sifiso Zulu.
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