Magashule denies ATM claims, seeks cash

ANC SECRETARY-GENERAL Ace Magashule has taken legal action against Buyisile Ngqulwana, the main witness who alleged he helped form the African Transformation Movement (ATM).

This comes as the ANC is probing the role of the party’s leaders in setting up smaller political parties in a bid to neutralise the ANC’s performance in the recently-held general elections.

Independent Media has seen papers filed in the Bloemfontein High Court in which Magashule rejects the claims.

The ATM was formed by the South African Council of Messianic Churches of Christ (SACMCC), then called African Transformation Congress (ATC) while Ngqulwana was the council’s general secretary.

Ngqulwana accused Magashule of assisting the SACMCC to set up the party, including advising it to change its name from ATC to ATM when its application was rejected by the Electoral Commission of SA.

In court papers filed on Monday, Magashule rejected the allegations and asked the court to gag Ngqulwana from further making them.

“As a starting point, I should emphatically state that I have never met, nor have I ever spoken to Ngqulwana.

“The first time I ever heard about him was when the media reported about my alleged involvement in the formation of the ATM as alleged by Ngqulwana,” Magashule said.

Magashule is also demanding R500 000 in damages from Ngqulwana as he said his allegations damaged his reputation as a political leader.

“I have been perceived as a sellout to the cause of the ANC. Due to Ngqulwana’s defamatory statement, I have been painted as dishonest and treacherous.

“As secretary-general, I lead the organisation on a daily basis. Trustworthiness and fidelity to the cause of the ANC are indispensable in my ability to lead the organisation. The strength of my office lies in the moral authority it commands from members of the ANC. If I am accused of being a traitor within, I am unable to discharge my duties,” he said.

He said the allegations against him could also destroy his political career if Ngqulwana was not ordered to retract them.

“If I am known to be a traitor, I will never be called by the ANC again to lead – whether in government or within the party. The effects on me are severe,” he said.

Magashule said he had initially written to Ngqulwana, asking him to withdraw his allegations, but that he rejected the request and stood by the claims.

“It is clear that Ngqulwana intends to continue making defamatory allegations against me. He has expressed no remorse for his defamatory allegations and I was left with little choice but to launch these proceedings,” he said.

The ATM has also denied Ngqulwana’s claims and is currently suing him for R2 million for these allegations.

Ngqulwana said he was planning to oppose both the ATM and Magashule’s lawsuits.