The ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa is set to hold an urgent meeting on Thursday after the revelation on Wednesday night that its secretary-general Ace Magashule had attempted to “suspend” ANC party president Cyril Ramaphosa via a written letter.

The secretary-general position is often referred to as the most powerful within the organisation.

Magashule’s letter, in which he refused to step aside because of corruption allegations, said he would be appealing his suspension and added that he was “suspending” Ramaphosa - who is also the leader of the country. The letter is said to have angered the president.

Magashule confirmed to the M&G on Wednesday night that the letter was “not fake”.

Step Aside Policy

He said he had the authority to suspend Ramaphosa because he was still the secretary general of the governing party, adding that the president too had been implicated in potentially corrupt acts.

“The resolution says all those who are alleged, reported and charged [must step aside],” he said.

"I have also, in accordance with the powers vested in me as the secretary general of the ANC … summarily suspended the president of the ANC, comrade Cyril Ramaphosa," Magashule said in his letter.

“This is done in terms of resolution 8.2 of the 54th national conference, which states that, ‘Every cadre accused of, or reported to be involved in, corrupt practices should voluntarily step down while they face disciplinary, investigative or prosecutorial procedures".

President Ramaphosa is accused by some of having received corrupt funds to aid his campaign to oust Jacob Zuma in 2018.

But the ANC is a party split in the middle among Ramaphosa and Jacob Zuma supporters. Magashule is a powerful Zuma ally.

During the short phone call on Wednesday night, the M&G could hear voices in the background that appeared to be Magashule supporters.

“Why don’t you read those 10 points? They (Ramaphosa camp) are using state organs and we are quiet and we know this. We know what they are cooking against Supra [Mahumapelo], Bongani Bongo, Lindiwe Sisulu. We know what they are cooking. I will not step aside and I am still the secretary general elected by conference,” Magashule told the M&G.

Magashule Condemned

The M&G also spoke to ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe on Wednesday, who dismissed Magashule’s letter, saying that already suspended Magashule had no authority to suspend Ramaphosa.

“This is an organisation. You don’t wake up angry and take a decision and communicate it. This is of no consequence, because we were at the national working committee yesterday and this decision was not discussed. He makes a decision at his home alone and writes to the president. That is not how decisions are made in an organisation,” Mantashe said.

Make APC do the same to Bubu na

Desmond have reach S/a..

Nokio1:
Desmond have reach S/a..

You won't believe it! That guy will never cease to amaze us

Nokio1:
Desmond have reach S/a..

Guys, I'm in SA - who's Desmond? I see him mentioned everywhere.

i blame Desmond Ediot for this!


South Africans pls blame this guy!

His Name is Desmond Ediot!


He is the cause of all the problems in Africa!

Ramaphosa should win this battle, ace and Zuma faction are crooks

nwaanambra1:
i blame Desmond Ediot for this!
South Africans pls blame this guy!
His Name is Desmond Ediot!
He is the cause of all the problems in Africa!

TMKsouth:
Social media reaction

The second one killed me

AfriqueDuZuid:


The second one killed me

they are 2 favourites I came across.

So what do u think of Ace: are you a fan or not? I'm not

TMKsouth:


they are 2 favourites I came across.

So what do u think of Ace: are you a fan or not? I'm not

Hell no, they should kill each other already.

Its like ANC and EFF it's two sides of the same coin.

South Africa will be better without both of them

AfriqueDuZuid:


Hell no, they should kill each other already.
Its like ANC and EFF it's two sides of the same coin.
South Africa will be better without both of them

okay, i wouldn't go that far, I don't want Cyril killed. But this is Zuma 2.0 loading, exactly what happened when Mbeki fired him. These guys are gonna regroup but I hope they do it outside the ANC where no one will vote for them and they'll become irrelevant.

EFF is something else all together.

:Social media reactionThe second one killed me

ChiefSosa:
Do me I do you...man no go vex
Step on the dancefloor...man no go vex
Touch me I wound you...man no go vex

Fire for fire Still tryin to figure what man no go vex means

TMKsouth:


okay, i wouldn't go that far, I don't want Cyril killed. But this is Zuma 2.0 loading, exactly what happened when Mbeki fired him. These guys are gonna regroup but I hope they do it outside the ANC where no one will vote for them and they'll become irrelevant.

EFF is something else all together.

Zuma alone has massive following,

There's no one better thru all the same, the problem is the ANC in its entirety

The gall of this man..

ChiefSosa:

Lol, it means there shouldn't be any complaint if an action is reciprocated back to the doer.

Thanx! Improving my pidgin step by step

AfriqueDuZuid:


Zuma alone has massive following,

Without the ANC brand he would never perform well at the polls outside KZN. Their greed alone would very soon lead to an implosion of that new formation.