Ace admits to Zuma meeting

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule yesterday admitted meeting with ex-president Jacob Zuma, but denied reports of a plot to unseat President Cyril Ramaphosa was discussed at the Durban gathering.

The Sunday Times reported at the weekend that top figures in the ANC, including Magashule, were holding secret meetings, plotting to remove Ramaphosa.

Zuma, Magashule, Supra Mahumapelo, ANC Women’s League secretary Matuba Meokgo and ANC Youth League (ANCYL) KwaZulu-Natal leader Thanduxolo Sabelo reportedly met last Thursday at the Maharani hotel in Durban.

That meeting was preceded by another the previous day in Umhlanga Rocks, where former South African Airways (SAA) board chairperson Dudu Myeni was in attendance.

In an interview with eNCA on Tuesday, Magashule said he needed to meet Zuma. He also admitted to the presence of Myeni and other individuals, including ousted North West premier Mahumapelo.

“I was in the meeting with former president Jacob Zuma. The meeting was about [ANC] organisational issues. It was not the first time I met with Zuma. There was a need for us to meet,” Magashule told eNCA anchor Vuyo Mvoko.

“There were many people there. Myself and Zuma had our own meeting. I think he met with Supra after that, and we were just waiting there. As we were about to leave we all came together outside. I do not know what Supra and Zuma discussed.”

He said he went to KwaZulu-Natal to resolve issues in the Moses Mabhida region and met its chairperson.

He then called Zuma the following day asking him for a meeting, because there were issues he needed to discuss with the expresident.

When asked whether other ANC leaders knew about the meeting, Magashule said he informed them after seeing Zuma.

“National officials did not then know I was meeting Zuma. But I did brief them about it in our Monday meeting.”

Magashule said the ANC bigwigs had accepted his reasons for meeting Zuma, but would not elaborate.

“I cannot disclose internal matters discussed by national officials and the national working committee (NWC). That is not how I was taught. Some of these matters do not concern the media. Organisational matters remain organisational.”

Allegations are rife that the group that met plans on challenging the outcomes of the December conference, claiming irregularities at branches and that most of the conference delegates were illegitimate.

“In the ANC, we have a dispute resolution committee,” he said. – ANA.