ANC chickens out on Magashule
THE ANC’S top structures will meet next week to decide on the step aside resolution.
ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said yesterday the national working committee will meet on Monday over the matter and this will be followed by a national executive committee meeting on Saturday.
Mabe said the ANC “step aside” rule was not implemented to directly affect the party’s secretary-general, Ace Magashule.
The ANC said it would outline the process of stepping aside despite the fact that yesterday was the D-day for those charged with corruption and other serious crimes to step aside or face suspension.
“We have never received the number of people who are going to step aside. So far, we have not had a meeting.
“Reports of the ANC are filed in meetings, so in the absence of a meeting taking place, you'll have to then depend on Magashule’s office bringing forward that brief or it would be a courteous step they take which might not be helpful because the most appropriate thing to do from a processing point of view is to make sure that these reports go through the channel of the NWC ultimately the NEC,” said Mabe.
He said there was a need for finalising processes of the reports of integrity commission because the last NEC could not do that work. There had been been legal consultation abd ANC officials had been consulted.
Magashule has indicated that he wishes to consult senior party members and former leaders.
Magashule faces 21 charges of fraud and corruption related to his tenure as Free State premier over a R250 million asbestos contract.
Speaking in an interview on the last day of the “step aside” resolution day, Mabe said the ANC was implementing a decision that was taken at the NEC meeting.
“When we spoke about the step aside resolution or the guidelines, including how we are going to carry forward the step aside principle, this was never focused on a specific member of ANC.
“The understanding has always been that guidelines are applicable to the rest of the members who have taken the party’s oath of membership and who submits himself to the discipline of the organisation. There's always been that understanding,” said Mabe.
He said the resolution compelling party leaders and senior members accused of wrongdoing and criminally charged to step aside needed the approval of the party’s NEC.
Mabe said there had been guidelines agreed upon by NEC officials of the ANC from the president, treasurer-general.
Mabe said when the guidelines went to the party’s NEC and NWC those bodies would be able to have a fair appreciation of the work that has happened.
“I know, for instance, that there's been engagements with provincial chairpersons and provincial secretaries. There have been a number of activities and the SG is on record saying he will be meeting senior leaders. We have seen meetings he held with former treasurer-general Mathews Phosa, former president Jacob Zuma. We will get a fuller brief on all the work that has happened in an intervening period,” he said.
“What is important is that the ANC is given the space to carry out all these undertakings in a manner that unites the organisation.
“The ANC can never celebrate or rejoice having to ask some of its members to be out there and not be able to perform or fulfil positions that they have been elected into.
“The organisation has desires of instilling and enforcing a sense of a moral character there are certain decisions that are taken which might not be easy decisions that is why when it goes into all those decisions it has got to take everyone on board. It must make sure that those impacted by the decisions understand why the decision have been taken. If we do not do that we could be self-liquidating,” said Mabe.
Magashule was not available for comment.