South Africa’s ruling African National Congress appears set for a bruising and noisy power struggle after one of its most powerful officials refused to accept suspension from the party.
Ace Magashule, the ANC’s secretary general, was served with a suspension letter on Wednesday after refusing to comply with an order to step down after being charged by public prosecutors in November in connection with an allegedly fraudulent $18m project to find and remove asbestos from homes in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Supporters of President Cyril Ramaphosa had hailed the move as a major boost to his attempts to reform the ANC.
On Thursday, Magashule said that he was appealing against the decision, refused to step down and said he was suspending the president.
“Nothing is going on with me … I am still the party’s secretary general … I am not [going to resign]. They are using state organs and we know
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