Magashule out in cold

MPUMALANGA – )ormer ANC Secretary *eneral Ace Magashule’s dream of one day becoming the country’s head of state was dashed when his new political party began to unravel, with the apparent mass resignation of its Mpumalanga provincial leadership.

The disgruntled African Congress for Transformation ACT party provincial executive committee 3EC members cited Magashule’s dictatorial leadership style as the cause for Tuitting.

They said they would announce their new political home today. ACT is not contesting the Mpumalanga provincial legislature ballot and has not fielded candidates on its provincial list.

Magashule topped both the national and the -candidate )ree State provincial list. ACT has fielded six candidates in the Eastern Cape, in the )ree State, eight in the North :est and

in the Northern Cape. )ree State, the :estern Cape and Mpumalanga have regional deployees to national.

Magashule rewarded the controversial former Directorate for 3riority Crime Investigation boss, %erning Ntleme]a, with nominations for Eastern Cape premier and placed him in seventh on the national list.

SURPRISING

Independent 3olitical Analyst, *oodenough Mashego said it was not surprising that ACT had begun to unravel so early in its life.

“Ace is not a national leader type. +e was elevated by unhappy delegates from Mpumalanga to the ANC secretary general position.

“)or him to open a structure in Mpumalanga was a gamble because he does not have a chance there ± he is unknown to the people in the province,” he said.

ACT could join forces with former 3resident -acob =uma’s uMkhonto weSi]we party after the election, as this was the intention of the former radical economic transformation members, Magashule, who is also an ex-)ree State 3remier, had ambitions to challenge 3resident Cyril 5amaphosa for the ANC presidency and as head of state.

%ut his ambitious career plans could be dashed as members begin to flee his small party. The 3EC called it Tuits after Magashule allegedly “smuggled” two “strangers” from Mpumalanga onto the party’s national list without their knowledge.

The two were Cecil Mahlangu fourth and -an Mahlangu fifth , who had not been around to do the grassroots work.