South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has dismissed as null and void the purported suspension on Wednesday of President Cyril Ramaphosa by the party’s beleaguered secretary general Ace Magashule who had earlier in the day been suspended from his position.
Hours after his suspension, Magashule took to pen and paper to send his own “suspension” letter to his boss in a retaliatory act.
Responding to this development, ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe on Thursday said Magashule did not have the authority to make any unilateral decision of this nature – and more so after he was suspended from the party hours earlier.
The party spokesperson said any decision regarding a suspension of a party member came from its six-member inner circle known as the National Executive Committee – and not an individual.
Mabe said the ANC had seen Magashule’s “mischievous “letter to “suspend” Ramaphosa for six months from the party but would not comment on its content.
Magashule’s suspension on Wednesday followed a party resolution directing all ANC members accused of corrupt practices to step aside until they are cleared by the courts of their charges.
ANC members facing corrupt charges in court were given 30 days up to April 30 to adhere to the resolution.
The suspended secretary general faces multiple multi-million dollar fraud and corruption charges incurred during his time as premier of the Free State Province.
He is on bail as he awaits his day in court.
NM/jn/APA