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Jesse Duarte (Denzil Maregele)
- The ANC undersecretary general says she does not want Ace Magashule’s position.
- An employee in Duarte’s office inadvertently signed a letter with Duarte’s name as general secretary.
- Magashule has been charged with 21 counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with a 255 million rand asbestos audit corruption case.
ANC Undersecretary General Jessie Duarte dispelled rumors that she wants to take over from Ace Magashule.
A letter sent by Duarte to the party structures identified her as General Secretary, a position held by Magashule, accused of corruption.
The former Free State Prime Minister has been charged with 21 counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering in connection with a 255 million rand asbestos audit corruption case.
He made his first appearance at Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on Friday, and while there have been calls in some places for him to step aside, Magashule was expected to remain in his post.
READ | Former Ace Magashule AP Spilled Beans Over Money Requests: Report
On Friday, the dormant divisions were rekindled again when Magashule issued a challenge to his political detractors warning that he was ready to “step into the ring.”
The magistrates’ court in Mangaung became a playground for ANC factional battles as Magashule supporters shouted for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign.
When he took the microphone after his first court appearance, Magashule also fired warning shots at Ramaphosa and his allies.
Duarte’s letter was intended to update party structures on the new deadlines for membership registration and conferences.
In a voice memo, Duarte said an employee made a mistake in the letter by referring to her as the general secretary and not attaching it.
“Good morning comrades, I am sending you a note that is a bit personal and very hurtful. A member of my office staff sent a letter regarding the cut-off dates for membership to December 15, which is a committee decision. of national work, “he said.
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Inadvertently, at the bottom of the letter he signed it as ‘Jessie Duarte, Secretary General’. You are now sending, some of you comrades, WhatsApp messages in your chat groups that I myself have anointed as general secretary and “I have worked out a plan and a conspiracy to eliminate Comrade Ace Magashule,” he said.
Duarte said it would never be distorted that way.
“The comrade in question has apologized for his mistake and the letter itself has been withdrawn. However, some colleagues continue to mischievously and drive wedges between people. I ask you to stop this. I ask you, understand that this was a real error on the part of a staff member who apologized. It was not something calculated as some suggested. That is very insidious, please my comrades, could you stop this now? Will you think we have to unite the ANC? “he said.
