President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday that he was “dismayed” to receive a letter from suspended ruling African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Ace Magashule allegedly “suspending” him as ANC leader.
According to Ramaphosa, Magashule’s retaliatory letter to “suspend” him from the ANC reached him Wednesday night, but the move “held no water”.
“It came out of the blue and I was dismayed. But I will leave it to the National Executive Committee to deal with the matter this weekend,” the president told the party’s parliamentary caucus during a meeting in Cape Town.
The ANC’s head of the presidency Sibongile Besani said Magashule’s letter was aimed at collapsing the party.
“Magashule’s letter is null and void and it is a desperate attempt to save his floundering political career,” Besani said.
He added: “It is one of the most unfortunate precedences because that letter is an attempt to collapse the ANC, and it is also an attempt not to build unity within the ranks of the ANC.”
The official said Magashule was part of a clique that has been “benefitting from a weak ANC.”
“They are people who thrive when there is confusion in the party,” Besani said.
Magashule’s suspension on Wednesday followed a party resolution directing all ANC members accused of corrupt practices to step aside until they are cleared of the charges by courts of law.
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 multimillion dollar fraud and corruption charges incurred during his time as premier of the Free State province.
He is on bail awaiting his day in court.
NM/jn/APA