Ruling African National Congress’ (ANC) secretary general Ace Magashule has confirmed that he would “step aside” from office following the party’s National Executive Committee’s request for him to do so, APA learnt on Thursday.
The development follows the ANC’s National Executive Committee weekend meeting’s decision that all its members facing corruption charges should excuse themselves from office till the resolution of their court cases.
Magashule is among 14 people facing corruption allegations in the Bloemfontein Regional Court related to a contract over an asbestos housing project in the Free State when he was premier.
He has denied the multiple charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering linked to the project.
He is currently waiting for trial but has not revealed when he might step down as he was busy making consultations on the issue.
However, the ANC was determined those who were charged in court should step aside by the end of April, or would be suspended and charged by the party.
Magashule, speaking in Soweto, dispelled suggestions that he would leave the ANC and form his own party, saying he was a lifetime member of the organisation which fought a liberation war to dismantle the apartheid system of segregation between blacks and whites.
Magashule and former president Jacob Zuma are said to be leading an ANC faction known as Radical Economic Transformation (RET) forces, whose main aim is to oppose incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Following the weekend’s ANC NEC meeting, Magashule had initially said that he would make consultation with veteran ANC leaders for guidance.
Political observers say what the official meant was that he would consult Zuma to get advice on this latest development and they believe that his decision to step down may not the end of the issue and that Magashule and Zuma may have something up their sleeve.
NM/jn/APA