SCORES of ANC supporters from opposing factions are expected at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court when the party’s Secretary-General Ace Magashule appears on corruption charges.
Magashule will hand himself to the Hawks on Friday morning, where he will formally be charged.
Magashule is facing charges of corruption related to the controversial R255 million asbestos audit contract when he was still Premier of the Free State.
He is the highest-profile politician to face charges since President Cyril Ramaphosa took office in 2018 and pledged to crack down on corruption, which became endemic during former President Jacob Zuma’s rule.
Magashule maintains that he has done nothing wrong and that he is not concerned about his arrest.
“The SG (Secretary-General) briefed us about the letters he has received from law enforcement agencies and the fact that he will cooperate and he will go to court on Friday,” ANC Treasurer-General Paul Mashatile told a news conference about the Tuesday meeting of senior officials.
Mashatile said the party’s national officials did not discuss whether Magashule should step down as per the ANC’s resolution on leaders facing corruption charges.
He called on ANC members to be calm and said the ANC would address the “big problem” of corruption in society.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said that the case, which involves alleged fraud of R255 million, would then be postponed to February 19 next year.
Seven people have been already charged, though Magashule has not.
However, Magashule is expected to be added to the charge sheet on Friday along with two others unnamed individuals.
Free State ANC leader Vusi Tshabalala told the SABC on Friday morning that charges against Magashule were politically motivated.
“It’s politics in action. We can see law enforcement agencies are being used to fight political battles in the ANC,” said Tshabalala.
He accused former Economics Development MEC Mxolisi Dukwana of using the media to dent Magashule’s reputation.
“We are not going to use the media. We will fight our battles within the organization. There’s lot of propaganda. Who is Mxolisi Dukwana? Which branch of the ANC does he belong to? We know the leaders of the ANC. There’s a PEC (Provincial Executive Committee), led by Sam Mashinini,” said Tshabalala.
“People are using media to raise issues. This is foreign to us. The same leader was defeated in the leadership contest of the ANC. Magashule was elected. People love the ANC and they have shown this during this week’s by-elections. It’s us the leaders who think we’re important. We will support the SG.”
(SOURCE: INSIDE POLITICS)
