Cape Town – Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says his party is in talks with Ace Magashule, the recently expelled former secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC), about the possibility of him joining the EFF.
The ANC officially expelled Magashule on Monday after he failed to respond to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.
Magashule was found guilty of bringing the ANC into disrepute when he attempted to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa in May 2021.
He is also facing charges in connection with an asbestos tender in the Free State.
Malema confirmed that discussions with Magashule are at an advanced stage, and the EFF will make an announcement when negotiations are concluded, The Citizen said, citing Times Live.
“I’m talking to him. We’re at an advanced stage of the discussions. Electoral politics are politics of numbers. It’s very important that you talk to everyone,” the report quoted Malema as saying.
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Malema also said that his party is engaged in similar talks with other senior ANC leaders but did not disclose any names.
Last month, the EFF expressed its intention to attract influential members from the ANC, with former president Jacob Zuma being among their targeted recruits.
Malema said that Zuma should not be punished indefinitely.
“If president Zuma comes and joins the EFF, he’ll be welcome. I think very soon I’ll be going to see him, I must give him a form to join. The same way I’ll give to President Mbeki, the same way I’ll give to President Motlanthe.”
“They are good citizens of the country and I think president Zuma has paid his dues. I mean I said yesterday (Friday) the highest form of punishment you can give a sitting president is to ensure that they don’t end their term of office,” said Malema during an interview with SABC.
Zuma faces 16 counts of fraud, graft and racketeering relating to a contract to purchase fighter jets, patrol boats and equipment from five European arms firms while he was vice president.
He served as president from 2009 to 2018 before being forced out over allegations of corruption in the state sector.
The EFF recently received former African Transformation Movement (ATM) member Mzwanele Manyi.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
