PHUTI MOSOMANE
ACE Magashule becomes the first ANC Secretary-General to be expelled from the party.
The party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) confirmed his expulsion on Monday in a statement.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) of the ANC met to deliberate on charges preferred against its former Secretary-General.
“The NDC found Comrade Ace Magashule guilty of contravening Rules 25.17.12 of the ANC Constitution by undermining the respect or impeding the functioning of any structure or committee of the party,” she said.
Following a guilty verdict by the NDC, Magashule was allowed to show cause why he should not be expelled from the ANC.
Bhengu-Motsiri said Magashule didn’t respond and upon the lapse of the seven days grace period he was given, the NDC decided to expel him.
“Consequently, the NDC confirmed the expulsion of comrade Ace Magashule from the ANC as a final sanction,” Bhengu-Motsiri added.
Magashule’s misconduct primarily stems from his refusal to apologise to ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and party structures.
He was found guilty of unilaterally suspending Ramaphosa in 2021 without consulting the relevant officials, such as the National Working Committee and National Executive Committee (NEC).
In May 2021, he was asked to step aside following allegations of corruption.
Magashule was ANC’s longest serving Free State Chairperson who became Premier of the province from 2009 to 2018.
He defeated current Minister of Water and Sanitation Senzo Mchunu for the position of secretary General of the ANC at the Nasrec conference in 2017.
On Monday, Magashule said he heard about the news of his expulsion from the ANC on social media and indicated that he will be holding a press conference next week.
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