ANC National Executive in surprise ‘step aside’ move
AS THE 30-day deadline edges closer, tensions appear to be rising in the governing party. This comes as ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has seemingly changed the rules of engagement surrounding the resolution reached by the national executive committee last month that all members facing corruption or other serious crime charges step aside within 30 days or face suspension.
But a recent memorandum by Magashule in which he instructs all nine provincial secretary-generals to provide him with names of members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes and those accused by tomorrow has left some NEC members tongue-tied.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe yesterday asked to be contacted later when asked to comment on the memo, while Magashule’s phone rang unanswered as this paper attempted to establish if the provinces had adhered to the memo and how many had submitted names so far.
Magashule faces money laundering, corruption and fraud charges linked to the R255 million asbestos contract but has insisted he has done nothing wrong.
While 14 days remain for the step-aside deadline, political analysts said Magashule’s letter had widened the net.
“The step-aside resolution will become unimplementable. Magashule is making this almost impractical to implement. Half the party is facing problems. It works well for him,” Ralph Mathekga said.
Political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi, on the other hand, said Magashule was implementing a resolution and not expressing a personal wish.
“The letter is interesting, he is one of the parties the letter refers to. The 30 days resolution means nothing if members are not going to comply. This is an attempt to kick the can down the road; what if a member refuses to step aside?” said Matshiqi.
The resolution of the 54th ANC conference resolved that the 2015 NEC resolutions be implemented urgently by the NEC and PECs to: “Strengthen our understanding of our values, ethics and morality and the demands that the people, the Constitution and the rule of law places on us as the guardians of the state and its resources.
“Demand that every cadre accused of, or reported to be involved in, corrupt practices accounts to the Integrity Committee immediately or faces DC processes.
“Summarily suspend people who fail to give an acceptable explanation or to voluntarily step down, while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures.
“We publicly disassociate ourselves from anyone, whether business donor, supporter or member, accused of corruption or reported to be involved in corruption,” said the conference.”
But in a letter, Magashule said the list of the members who should step aside by the end of the month should include even those implicated or alleged to be involved in wrongdoing but not yet charged. This is in contrast to the resolution which was read out at the end of the last ANC national executive committee meeting.
In the NEC statement read out by ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa, it said only those charged with serious criminal offences should step aside.
However, the resolution left a loophole for provincial chairpersons and secretaries to change it as it said they should meet and refine the guidelines with Magashule’s office.
“All members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes must step aside within 30 days, failing which, they should be suspended in terms of Rule 25.70 of the ANC constitution.
“The meeting emphasised that the 30-day period will be to enable the implementation of the decision in line with the guidelines, not to review the decision,” read the NEC resolution.
“The NEC also agreed that the provincial chairpersons and secretaries would meet with the national officials during that time to further refine the guidelines to ensure the resolution can be effectively and practically implemented.
“The secretary-general’s office will work with the provinces to identify all people affected and inform them of the decision.”