Ramaphosa makes no show of unity
• ANC left bruised by latest NEC meeting • Suspended Magashule ordered to apologise
The ANC emerged from the latest national executive committee (NEC) bruised, despite President Cyril Ramaphosa’s victory against his internal nemesis Ace Magashule, with the party openly lamenting a possible split.
After its meeting, in which secretary-general Magashule was ordered to apologise for a statement last week “suspending” Ramaphosa, the NEC went as far as to call for a leadership retreat to forge unity.
Such a gathering would put on record that disgruntled members who do not respect the “decisions of the collective” should face disciplinary action that could see them expelled.
In contrast to previous postmeeting statements that sought to paper over differences and present a picture of unity, the statement read out by Ramaphosa on Monday admitted to deep problems in the party.
How the political struggles work out will be crucial for investors as they assess whether to give another chance to the country, which at the moment is riding a wave of optimism about emerging markets that has pushed the rand to a 16-month high.
According to some analysts, Ramaphosa’s apparent victory over Magashule, who is said to lead a faction loyal to former president Jacob Zuma, could enhance his ability to enact the structural reform needed to boost the competitiveness of the economy.
“The ANC NEC have expressed concern about a concerted and well-resourced campaign to sow division and confusion in the ANC, with the ultimate aim to destroy the movement as an instrument for progressive transformation and change,” the statement read.
Ramaphosa said the campaign was being led by “a few individuals from within the NEC” through leaks, public pronouncements, protests and misinformation on social media.
In his closing statement, Ramaphosa chastised Magashule for issuing a statement claiming that he had suspended Ramaphosa in terms of the
party’s step-aside policy, which applies only to leaders facing serious criminal charges. Magashule threw the party into turmoil last week when he said he was suspending Ramaphosa, in reaction to the NEC statement that he himself should stand down pending criminal charges.
“The NEC furthermore instructed officials to advise the secretary-general to apologise publicly to ANC structures within a set timeframe. If he fails to do so, the ANC will institute disciplinary procedures in accordance with the ANC constitution,” Ramaphosa said.
The NEC agreed to investigate the leaks, which began making the rounds on social media soon after the meeting started on Saturday.
One was of former president Thabo Mbeki addressing those who questioned whether there is still “one” ANC.
Mbeki, according to insiders, argued that differences within the party are “not ideological but driven by self-interest”.
Business Day understands that among those who apparently stood for Magashule in the NEC were Tony Yengeni, women’s league leader Bathabile Dlamini and Malusi Gigaba, the former home affairs minister who stood down in 2018.
People who were at the meeting said justice minister Ronald Lamola was at the forefront of calls for Magashule to face charges. “Lamola said something has to be done. Other NEC members said you can’t have an SG [secretary-general] making all sorts of claims in the media and the ANC must be okay with it,” the source said.
It is understood that in Ramaphosa’s opening address on Saturday, he said the action against Magashule was necessary because the party had to act against graft or risk losing public confidence and electoral support. In a further sign that Magashule did not have the support of the majority of the NEC, he was kicked out of the meeting, which he tried to attend pending the outcome of his appeal against the decision to suspend him.
Ramaphosa also said there had been “unwarranted attacks”, including “death threats” on deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte and NEC co-ordinator Andries Nel for carrying out the decisions by ANC structures on those who must step aside.
‘IF THE SECRETARYGENERAL FAILS TO APOLOGISE PUBLICLY, THE ANC WILL INSTITUTE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES’