ANC’s nine provincial secretaries were involved in a frantic scramble on Thursday to submit their lists of names of members charged with corruption to the party’s Secretary General Ace Magashule.
Most provincial secretaries confirmed on Thursday confirmed that they have already submitted the lists of party members who are involved in corruption to the Office of the Secretary General, but declined to share further information or details.
Magashule gave provincial secretaries a 5pm deadline on Thursday to submit the names of those who must step aside as they face charges of corruption and other serious crimes.
He has also asked secretaries to inform those who must step aside to do so within 30 days or face suspension.
Last month, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa said the party’s national executive committee resolved that all members facing serious criminal charges have 30 days to step aside or face disciplinary action.
The party’s National Working Committee welcomed the decision of the NEC on 26 – 29 March 2021 that 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 NWC said it noted that provinces have been requested to submit, by Thursday, 15 April 2021, the names of those members who have been charged with corruption or other serious crimes.
“Provinces have also been requested to inform affected members of the decision of the NEC,” the NWC said in a statement.
“The NWC further noted that provinces have been requested to make comments on the implementation of the Guidelines and Procedures and the proposed Terms and Conditions for Stepping Aside by Thursday, and that the National Officials through a team led by the Treasurer General Paul Mashatile will consolidate and process these inputs and report to the NWC.”
The list includes some of ANC’s senior leaders, including Magashule.
Magashule faces 21 charges of fraud and corruption related to his tenure as Free State premier over a R250 million Free State asbestos contract.
He is out on R200 000 bail.
The case was postponed to 11 August 2020 for pre-trial hearings in the Free State high court.
The ANC secretary-general said he would use the 30-day period to consult with former party leaders, including former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki.
On Thursday, Magashule met Zuma at his homestead in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal.
Addressing the media outside the home of the former president, Magashule said he was not only consulting politicians as he sought guidance on the step aside resolution, while repeatedly referring to the talks with Zuma as a “wonderful visit”.
“I have done a lot of consultation, be it with churches, everybody. And I do have some guidance, not counselling, guidance,” Magashule said.
Accompanied by ANC NEC member and staunch Zuma backer Tony Yengeni by his side, Magashule told the media that during the meeting with Zuma they had generally discussed the party’s issues more than his own.
“Remember that the step aside, so called, is not about Ace Magashule. I hear people want to say only those who are charged, we refer them to the resolution of Nasrec,” Magashule said.
On the same day a group of ANC supporters gathered outside Luthuli House in support of the embattled party secretary-general.
Magashule has already met former ANC Treasurer General, Matthews Phosa, on Tuesday.
