Ace’s refusal to step aside undermines Cyril’s authority – Experts – The Citizen

The refusal of the ANC secretary general, Ace Magashule, to “step aside” from his political responsibilities at the party’s headquarters, sought to undermine the authority of President Cyril Ramaphosa and his crusade against corruption, according to political analysts. This is despite Magashule facing 21 counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering, emanating from the R255 million Free State asbestos project. On all public platforms, even as he addressed the crowds outside the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday, Magashule has made it clear that it will not adhere to the “step aside” position adopted by the National Executive Committee (NEC ) of the ANC. He has maintained that only the branches of the ANC, who elected him, …

The refusal of the ANC secretary general, Ace Magashule, to “step aside” from his political responsibilities at the party’s headquarters, sought to undermine the authority of President Cyril Ramaphosa and his crusade against corruption, according to political analysts.

This is despite Magashule facing 21 counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering, emanating from the R255 million Free State asbestos project.

On all public platforms, including as he addressed the crowds in front of the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday.
Magashule has made it clear that it will not adhere to the “step aside” position adopted by the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC).

He has argued that only the branches of the ANC, which elected him, were able to remove him.

After a meeting of the NEC three months ago, Ramaphosa told a news conference about a decision for members formally charged with
corruption to “immediately withdraw” from all charges, pending the completion of their cases.

Professor of Political Scientists Dirk Kotze, University of South Africa, and Visiting Professor at the Wits University School of Governance
Susan Booysen said yesterday that Magashule threw the gauntlet at the NEC position, signaling a challenge for Ramaphosa and “an uphill battle for the ANC.”

Said Kotze: “Surely, many people will see this as a challenge to the authority of President Ramaphosa, because he is the main
driving force in the ANC and in the government, behind the anti-corruption campaign.

“Magashule has made it clear that only the branches could ask him to step aside, which can only happen at the national general council or national conference.

“This has negative implications for the anti-corruption campaign, which states that those involved in corruption cases must be
removed from party and government positions. “

Kotze and Booysen said Magashule, like former President Jacob Zuma, sought to politicize the legal challenges.

“This is going to be a long and uphill road to clean up the ANC, because there will be no confession or admission of wrongdoing for a long time,” Booysen said.

“It will be a tragedy for the ANC if the commitment they gave to the electorate in the last elections is not going to come true, that there is something concrete to clean up the ANC.”

– [email protected]

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