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For many years, Ace Magashule was one of South Africa’s most powerful politicians, a firefighter with a name similar to the African National Congress.
But now, the former ANC secretary general has been criticizing the party that has ruled South Africa for 27 years, suspending him for refusing to resign over corruption scandals.
“No one will take me away from the ANC. . . I am not leaving the ANC with me [will] die in the ANC, “Magashule, who denies wrongdoing, said this month at a rally former president Jacob Zuma. Zuma was appearing in court on a lengthy fraud charge. Magashule’s trial is expected to take place in August, a few months before the ANC contestes the October elections.
Officials in the ANC have denounced Magashule for “disunity, division and rivalry”. “He has been charged with felony criminal mischief for felony criminal mischief, conspiracy to commit felony criminal mischief and conspiracy to commit felony criminal mischief. [other] ANC members have done it, ”Jessie Duarte, Magashule’s deputy, said in a statement to the court this week.
The battle for Magashule’s future represents a major struggle for party life led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who wants to close the door on his successor. At stake, obviously, is not our commitment to the South African economy in the aftermath of the epidemic, but also the ideology of post-apartheid groups that have been beaten under Zuma’s rule. Zuma’s leadership was marked by fraud in the so-called “state capture”, or systematic theft of state property.
Magashule and Ramaphosa represent the opposing factions of the party. Magashule’s allies have been accused of plotting to assassinate him, while a lawyer who turned to Ramaphosa has tried to provoke the party. “These sections are impassable. It’s him or Ramaphosa, “said William Gumede, chairman of Democracy Work, the foundation of security.
Ace Magashule talks with students protesting outside the ANC’s Johannesburg headquarters in March © Michele Spatari / AFP / Getty
For the first time since the president took office in 2018, “there is a perception that Ramaphosa has now joined the ranks, that even fraudsters are starting to panic,” Gumede said. If even senior officials in the ANC can be suspended, it sends a signal “under the chain” to usurpers ruled by the ANC at the bottom, he added. Many party members are said to be being asked to withdraw from the cases being used in Magashule.
Magashule’s attempts to fight back have not changed. He wanted to oust Ramaphosa as ANC President and that is why he is facing further charges within the party. When Magashule sought to portray himself as a masterpiece, a picture of him staring at a chess board, handwritten, was ridiculed by Garry Kasparov, Russia’s chief chess chef, as an “opener”
“Ace remains isolated even among anti-Ramaphosa activists,” said Ralph Mathekga, a political analyst. Many senior allies of Magashule and Zuma are considering their future career under Ramaphosa, he said. But the change does not show that the party is too politically inclined, he added.
Aside from Magashule’s struggles with Ramaphosa, South African newspapers in recent weeks have been plagued by links to the ANC that have robbed state government, from everything from epidemics to emergency power purchases. “Color doesn’t really change,” Mathekga said.
Magashule’s case against his suspension paints a picture of the party’s elected members who are feeling very hungry despite being in the party. “The real purpose of my removal is to remove, by feces or deception, from the all-powerful power of [secretary-general], so that the way to the re-election of President Cyril Ramaphosa and his party. . . they have been made easier, ”he said.
The allegations are related to sowing discord among parties rather than winning court appearances, investigators said. Ramaphosa is due to be re-elected as party leader by the end of next year. Although they have strong support in the ANC’s national executive committee, a group of about 80 administrators, and their legislative body, they have little support among party affiliates.
The hope that Magashule has made is to reassure members that they will vote soon to give Ramaphosa a chance, although this will not happen, investigators said. Magashule’s “biggest victory” is trying to run the party instead of quitting, Mathekga said.
As one of the oldest political parties in Africa, the ANC has faced many divisions. But without the opportunity to join the party and use public funds, it has been forgotten in the elections. Only one, the Economic Freedom Fighters, made up of exiles left the ANC Youth League, won more than a million votes in the election. The EFF won 10% of the 17.4m votes cast in the 2019 general election.
The ANC won more than 57 percent of the vote in 2019, with a narrow margin. The ANC’s lower court and minority voters prefer to retire over time, as has the economic crisis following the epidemic, Gumede said. “People are angry and dissatisfied. . . The foundations of the ANC are fighting hard. ”
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