Restrictions set to weaken suspended Ace — analysts
ANC strongman Ace Magashule will no longer be allowed to speak publicly on behalf of the party,or lobby anyone on its behalf.
It emerged yesterday that Magashule was served with a letter of suspension on Monday, the same day the ANC’s national working committee (NWC) resolved that party leaders who failed to step aside voluntarily be summarily suspended.
Magashule’s suspension letter was signed off by his deputy, Jessie Duarte, who was communicating the decision of the NWC.
The restrictions imposed on Magashule as part of his suspension were set to weaken him politically should he be unable to manoeuvre around them, analysts said.
In her letter to Magashule,
Duarte informed him that he had failed to comply with a party resolution that ANC members facing formal criminal charges should voluntarily step aside by the end of last month, as per the decision by
the ANC national executive committee at the end of March.
Magashule is facing a raft of charges including corruption, fraud and racketeering related to a R250m asbestos eradication tender that was awarded in the Free State during his time as the premier.
He is a co-accused in a long list of people including businessman Edwin Sodi, who won the tender with his now-deceased partner, Ignatius “Igo” Mpambane.
In her letter, Duarte told Magashule that the party’s NWC, which met on Monday, authorised her to suspend him until his court case has been concluded.
She said the NWC had resolved that it was in the best interests of the ANC that all members facing charges be served with suspension letters.
However, the decision to suspend the man in charge of the day-to-day running of the governing party is expected to spark fierce debate at this weekend’s NEC meeting, starting on Saturday.
Magashule’s backers are expected to mount a pushback at
the meeting. Magashule is barred from publicly representing the ANC and also barred from speaking on any matter involving the party.
He may not mobilise any structure of the ANC or any organisation or any person on any ANC matters, especially on the issue of his stepping aside.
Magashule will, however, still receive his salary and all the other benefits that come with his employment.
He earns about R130,000 a month.
Political analyst Prof Tinyiko Maluleke said the restrictions were set to weaken Magashule as they effectively disabled him from political activity.
“He will be restricted if he obeys them.
“But they were a natural consequence of this kind of sanction.
“The restrictions on organisations outside the ANC is that the party thinks he could use them, including churches and NGOs, as a proxy to address ANC members and stopping that has restricted him,” Maluleke said.
However another analyst, Ralph Mathekga, said Magashule could use his backers to do his bidding in his absence to avoid punishment.
“Remember, if people mobilise it does not mean you can find him guilty for those people mobilising.
“The big question now is that you have attempted to isolate him politically, can you manage to keep the party away from him?
“If he sits at home and activity continues all over, you cannot easily pin it on him,” Mathekga said.
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