STAFF REPORTER
ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule appeared before the party’s Integrity Commission on Saturday in a desperate attempt to clear his name related to corruption.
The party’s spokesperson Pule Mabe confirmed that Magashule has met with members of the Integrity Commission, including its chairperson George Mashamba.
“I can confirm that the Secretary General appeared before the Integrity Commission on Saturday. The commission will do its work and submit a report to the national executive committee (NEC) for consideration,” said Mabe.
Mabe said at this stage the party cannot pre-empt the outcome of the commission.
“None of us know what will be the outcome of the Integrity Commission. The Secretary General has taken a courageous step to appear before the commission without being invited and this shows he’s got nothing to hide.”
Magashule is facing 21 counts of corruption, fraud, and money laundering over the asbestos project, which was undertaken during his tenure as Free State premier.
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday that Magashule will face the party’s disciplinary body on Saturday to discuss the charges he is facing in court.
Ramaphosa made the announcement on the final day of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) on Thursday.
Magashule has been under pressure to step aside, leading to divisions in the party, with his supporters saying the ANC should leadership should not cherry pick cases for factional reasons.
The political heavyweight was arrested in October and appeared in court in Bloemfontein on 21 counts of fraud, corruption and money laundering, charges which stemmed from his time as premier of the Free State.
A group of ANC veterans in the Free State said the party’s NEC has failed to deal with Magashule.
The integrity Committee is a structure made up of ANC veterans.
Should they recommend that Magashule step-aside, the NEC may have to enforce their proposal, but it’s unlikely Magashule will go down without a fight.
ANC Youth League members from the Free State vowed to defend Magashule, saying the integrity commission was biased against him.
(SOURCE: INSIDE POLITICS)
