Former ANC secretary-general, Ace Magashule, has been expelled from the ruling party after failing to advance reasons why he should retain his membership.
According to ANC national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, the ANC national disciplinary committee (NDC) had given Magashule — who was charged by the party after he had illegally suspended president Cyril Ramaphosa — seven days to show why his membership should not be suspended.
ALSO READ | ‘No one will ban me in the ANC,’ says Magashule
Upon the lapse of seven days, the NDC had not received any representations to that effect. Consequently, the NDC confirmed the expulsion of comrade Ace Magashule from the ANC as a final sanction.
The ANC NDC had found Magashule guilty of misconduct after he in 2021 attempted to suspend Ramaphosa without following party processes.
A staunch supporter of former ANC president Jacob Zuma, Magashule was suspended as ANC secretary-general two years ago.
This was after the former ANC secretary-general was charged by the Hawks in connection with alleged corruption which involved the Free State provincial government during his tenure as premier of that province.
Hawks
According to the Hawks, Magashule was complicit in the awarding of a contract by the Free State Department of Human Settlements to a company owned by controversial businessman Edwin Sodi.
The tender was for the removal of asbestos roofs in some residential areas in the Free State.
Despite the provincial government department’s paying millions of rands to Sodi’s company, the removal of the asbestos roofs did not take place.
In a recent interview outside the Bloemfontein high court shortly after making an appearance in connection with the asbestos corruption case, Magashule indicated that some ANC members had urged him to launch his own political party.
ALSO READ | Magashule visits Zuma in Nkandla, receives ‘guidance’
At the time Magashule, who said “time will tell” whether he will form his own party, hinted that he was unlikely to form one as he remained a member of the ANC.
Magashule’s expulsion follows that of his other close ally, Carl Niehaus, who resigned early this year after the ANC NDC recommended that he should be expelled from the party.
Source: https://www.citizen.co.za/witness/politics/kznprovincial/disgraced-magashule-expelled-from-anc/
.
