Reports that factions of the South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party would shut the country down over the “step aside” resolution are mere rumours with no basis in fact or reality, ANC treasurer general Paul Mashatile said on Tuesday.
The reports started soon after the ANC’s National Executive Committee met in Johannesburg two weeks ago to reinforce a resolution passed in 2020 to remove its members accused of alleged corruption to step aside until they are cleared by the courts.
While the resolution was accepted by the six NEC members, unsubstantiated reports have arisen that a faction of the party supporting ANC secretary general Ace Magashule was planning to shut the country down to press for the scrapping of the “step aside” rule.
Mashatile, however, said the reports of a national shutdown by ANC members in protest against the step-aside rule were “just rumour-mongering.”
He said ANC members were disciplined and would follow the guidelines of the party’s constitution on the issue.
“If anybody goes and plans a shutdown, it will be ill-discipline. The processes that are in place are now unfolding in a way we think are fair,” Mashatile said.
A faction of ANC members believes the step-aside rule targeted Magashule, who is facing multiple fraud and money laundering charges arising from his position as Free State Provincial premier some years ago when he allegedly awarded a tender fraudulently.
Magashule and 14 other officials are on bail awaiting trial since the alleged corruption charges were slapped on them last year.
NM/jn/APA