ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule must step aside once charged, according to the ANC Constitution, now reinforced by the party’s special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on corruption in August 2020.
A warrant of arrest was issued for Magashule on 10 November, Daily Maverick reported, and he will appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrates’ Court on Friday. He faces several corruption-related charges for his role in the R255-million asbestos roof audit of Free State township houses. The money was looted and splurged on bling cars and houses by contractor Edwin Sodi, as Pieter Louis-Myburgh detailed here and only 3% of it was spent on the actual service to the intended beneficiaries.
Arrest warrant issued for ANC SG Ace Magashule over Free State asbestos saga
Magashule is the biggest fish netted by the Hawks and the Investigating Directorate of the National Prosecuting Authority in a series of State Capture-related charges and arrests at the beginning of October 2020. After ANC MP Vincent Smith, who was summonsed and charged with Bosasa-related corruption, Magashule is the second major politician booked by the Hawks and the NPA.
His arrest will have political reverberations as he is the chief administrative officer of the ANC. The party’s constitution is clear that Magashule must step aside. Section 25.7 says:
“Where a public representative, office-bearer or member has been indicted to appear in a court of law on any charge, the secretary-general… acting on the authority of the NEC… if satisfied that the temporary suspension of such (person) would be in the best interest of the Organisation, may suspend such public representative, office-bearer or member…”
As secretary-general, Magashule cannot suspend himself, so the party is likely to call a special NEC meeting to decide what to do. The NEC has the power to suspend him and should that happen, the Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte has to step in as acting secretary-general, according to the party’s constitution.
(At the time of publishing this article, it was reported by News24 that the ANC’s Top Six were meeting on Tuesday night to, among other issues, discuss Magashule’s arrest – Ed)
In addition to the constitution, the party’s 2015 national general council resolved to “summarily suspend people who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures”. In August 2020, the party resolved that, “People who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures should be summarily suspended.”
Ferraris, Bentley, Merc and a mansion — how Free State asbestos ‘loot’ bankrolled a life of luxury
“We say ‘Hands Off SG, Hands Off,’ ” said MK Military Veterans Association official Carl Niehaus, who said the association believed Magashule should not stand aside. “(The warrant) has serious consequences for the ANC and the country in general. We must all be concerned.” In a statement, the ANC said “the Secretary-General previously spoke about his imminent arrest and had requested his legal team to establish the validity of such an arrest with the relevant authorities… he (will) cooperate with any process undertaken by law enforcement agencies.”
Magashule is backed by the Free State wing of the ANC which is relatively small, by the MKMVA as well as parts of KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces. His supporters will engage in a campaign against his arrest, but he does not have the same support he had when he was elected secretary-general at the party’s conference in Nasrec, Johannesburg almost three years ago.
If he digs in his heels and refuses to stand aside, a suspension would have to be ordered by the NEC, which will pose a conundrum for President Cyril Ramaphosa who has chosen a path of rapprochement with the strongman.
Magashule has been accused of plotting against Ramaphosa since the change of guard in the ANC. He was summoned to appear before the party’s Integrity Commission earlier in 2020 — The Sowetan reported that he did so, but denied the allegations of being involved in tender shenanigans while he was Free State premier.
Questioned on the stumps where he was campaigning for the ANC before the 11 November by-elections, Magashule was bullish and hinted that dark forces were at play in the warrant. DM
A light at the end of the tunnel? or am I being too optimistic? Let’s hope the NPA don’t mess up the prosecution.
Stand in Jessie Duarte? From the frying pan into the fire.
““We say ‘Hands Off SG, Hands Off,’ ” said MK Military Veterans Association official Carl Niehaus”
Called it.
Carl Niehaus, you icon of irrelevance. There is a saying that goes something like this: “If you’re stupid, you should not talk and allow others to find that out.”
Classic Dunning-Kruger effect.
“In addition to the constitution, the party’s 2015 national general council resolved to “summarily suspend people who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures”. The ANC and its leaders are paper tigers. Very few offenders, if any, have stepped aside so far and the President who spoke of a line in the sand, remains stumm.
Please give me hope NPA, that justice will be served to those who stole and plundered from the most vulnerable members of our society. Ace deserves no mercy, he and the “tenderpreneurs” that live in opulence, leaving only 3% of the allocated money to ensure the poorest will breath asbestos, destroying their lungs and lives, if not already then down the line. You have the entire South Africa standing behind you NPA, make us proud!
It beggars belief why the media would give any time to vacuous non-entities (I’m struggling to be polite here) like Carl Niehaus and the MK Veterans – highly compromised, parasitic and intellectually-challenged bottom-feeders, who contribute ZERO to this country.
Don’t forget that as soon as the tide come in, the “line in the sand” is washed away!!
At last and thank you Pieter Louis-Myburgh – a journalist who did the leg work for the NPA without doubt.
It shows that greed does not have a limit! If you haven’t read Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s book, get it. You will be shocked and amazed at the arrogance, nepotism and grandiose of some South Africans
Carl Niehaus is a scream, he should be in Monty Python’s Flying Circus. What a clown !
I’m afraid the possible replacement is almost as bad as the incumbent!
Could be a temporary position until another warrant is produced. Hopefully they will begin to come thick and fast.
Eish Ace ! Soweto now ?
‘re Classic “Dunning Kruger”, I had to look it up – eye opening!
https://g.co/kgs/YaVn1x