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By Sihle Mavuso 
2h ago
Durban – In what appeared to be an attempt by President Cyril Ramaphosa to pressure members of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to go against the innocent doctrine until proven otherwise, the leader said he never thought that one day they would have to seek legal opinion on the resolution of the resignation.
Delivering his 11-page political brief of the party on Monday, Ramaphosa spoke about unity and corruption, among other topics.
He regretted that unity is becoming elusive and, unlike in the past, where divisions within the ANC were managed and remained internal affairs, they were now in the public domain.
Despite numerous resolutions and repeated pronouncements, unity within our movement remains elusive. As has long been the case, the divisions within our movement are most pronounced at the leadership level. The period after the 54th national conference was characterized by greater cohesion and unity of purpose within the organization, but now the divisions are increasingly evident and factions are emerging once again.
“These divisions are manifesting not only in our structures, but in public demonstrations of dissent and discord. In recent times we have witnessed statements and actions that are alien to the practices, culture and values of our movement. More and more we seem like an organization at war with itself, ”he said.
This comes as his supporters inside and outside the NEC are targeting the party’s general secretary, Ace Magashule, asking him to step aside as he faces corruption charges emanating from the Free State asbestos project worth 255 million rand. .
IOL reported late on Sunday that while the Ramaphosa infantrymen were firing at Magashule, there was bitter rejection. Magashule supporters went after Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan and asked Ramaphosa to fire him with immediate effect after he admitted to the Zondo commission that Sars’s rogue unit existed.
Former Presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma were surprise participants in the virtual meeting. Their presence is believed to have been in support of the two main factions that are arguing over the step aside resolution.
On the political landscape of Ramaphosa, he said that unity in the ANC should not aim to protect those accused of corruption and that the resignation resolution should be respected.
“Many of the challenges we now face are due to the lack of a common and coherent approach to the steps we must take to address allegations of corruption and other serious crimes against leaders and cadres of our movement. We have direct instruction from the 54th National Conference to renew our organization and clear resolutions on rebuilding the integrity and credibility of our movement. At the CNE meeting from August 28 to 30, we made firm and unequivocal decisions about the fight against corruption within our structures and throughout society.
“These decisions were made directly from the decisions of the 54th National Conference. We describe our stance as ‘a line in the sand’, representing our collective determination not to give ground in our fight against corruption. Now, just 3 months later, there is growing concern within society and among our members that this leadership is not committed to the decisions made by the NEC and by our national conference. The challenge we face is not just about the implementation of conference resolutions and NEC decisions, ”Ramaphosa said.
He admitted that about five legal opinions were requested to step aside, but did not say which one he believed should be upheld.
The meeting concludes Tuesday and a statement from the NEC is expected on what was discussed on Wednesday or Thursday.
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