Top ANC leaders poles apart, says Mahumapelo

THERE has never been unity between ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule. That is the view of former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo.

“We have never seen them together on organisational duties unless it’s the January 8th statement,” Mahumapelo said.

In an interview this week, Mahumapelo said the ANC's top six leadership was not engaging politically, and that was more evident with Ramaphosa and Magashule’s offices. This despite having to work together in preparation for the party's Monday meetings. The organisation has been fractured for years and went to its last elective conference at Nasrec heavily divided. The elected top six represented a compromise of the two slates in what was termed a “leadership of unity”. But Mahumapelo believed there had never been communication between the two offices since the conference.

“After the conference, they were supposed to meet weekly if not biweekly. They must prepare the agenda for the top six meetings, which happen even Monday. They should be asked how frequently they used to meet,” Mahumapelo said.

Mahumapelo said the pair were supposed to have shown leadership to the country and party members on the public spat between them. He said while allegations were levelled against them, they were supposed to talk things out.

“A more political engagement was needed between the president and SG. They needed to sit down and talk about the allegations being made against them and go back to the National Executive Committee (NEC) to ask for time to deal with the issues.”

While doing so, they were supposed to also appear in public together.

“The country would know there is leadership here. That would also remove the pressure and constant questions of when action would be taken. Our African way calls for elders to talk and resolve issues,” he said.

Ramaphosa and Magashule’s public spat escalated in the past few months with the president leading the charge for the SG's removal. Following that, Magashule sent a letter to Ramaphosa, announcing his suspension from the party. That letter was overturned as it was said he did not have the powers to suspend the president.

Magashule has since taken the organisation to court to overturn his suspension from party activities. In his papers, Magashule said the ANC could not outsource the legitimacy of its step aside rule to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). He argued that the step aside rule was illogical.

“Insofar as criminally charged members are concerned, their selection is in fact left to the decisions of the NPA, a state entity over which this political party has no control.

“The fact that the noble goal of preserving integrity in the ANC must be wholly dependent on the capacity and inclination of the NPA to charge or not charge a particular person is the clearest indication of the inherent absurdity of the approach; which the respondents seek this Honourable Court to embrace,” he said in his papers.

The matter is expected to be heard in court on June 24 and 25.