Cape Town – Former ANC Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, claims he was expelled from the African National Congress (ANC) due to pressure from businessman Johann Rupert.
In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Magashule said that he had already been let go by the party in 2021, following an ultimatum from Rupert to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
According to Magashule, Rupert demanded his removal as Secretary-General, threatening to withhold financial support for the ANC.
Magashule suggested that his recent expulsion was merely a formality, as the decision had been made earlier.
“I was expelled a long time ago. I was expelled because a certain Mr Rupert said ‘if you don’t expel this man I’m not going to support you, Mr President’.” – Former ANC secretary general Ace Magashule giving more details on his expulsion. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/6tUjWhKkD4
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 26, 2023
“You will remember there was an article and a certain Mr Rupert said this man, this weekend must go. That weekend, on Zoom, klaar, out, Magashule expelled.
“So I was expelled long ago. I will send you those articles so you can put them there, and the public can remember, that I was expelled because Mr Rupert wanted me out.
“He told Ramaphosa, ‘If you don’t expel this man, I will no longer support you Mr President,’” said Magashule.
He was expelled from the ANC after being found guilty of contravening the party’s constitution by “suspending” party Ramaphosa.
Magashule also confirmed that he had met with Julius Malema, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, who is trying to convince him to join the EFF.
“There was some information over the weekend that Ace Magashule is rejecting the EFF. I’ve never rejected the EFF.
“Julius Malema is my comrade; he’s right when he says they are engaging me. Malema did not fire himself from the ANC.” – Former ANC secretary general Ace Magashule admits that he met Malema.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/uNmZIQaEQz
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 26, 2023
“Julius Malema is my comrade — he’s right when he says they are engaging me.,” said Magashule.
He added: “Until the last years of my life, I will fight for blacks [because] I want black unity. I will fight for Africans, in particular, because we are the majority. I will fight that radical economic transformation must happen in our lifetime and that’s why I will support Malema and the others,” he said.
Magashule also clarified that he was still consulting with the ANC and had not formed a new political party or joined another party.
[WATCH] “I have never rejected the EFF”- Former ANC secretary general Ace Magashule says he’s yet to make an announcement on this political future following his expulsion from the ANC. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/HheLK7H7wu
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 26, 2023
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula last week said that the ANC stands by its decision to expel Magashule but acknowledged that they are uncertain about his plans and await his response.
“We don’t know what he is planning, whether to form a political party or to leave or to appeal to the National Executive Committee or anything of that sort, we don’t know. What we know, is what we have read and have seen is that he said the revolution continues and that he will respond at the appropriate time.
“So, we don’t know … all that we have seen is the mobilisation on the ground which has failed successive attempts. We have seen [the] burning of ANC t-shirts under his name and him going to former ANC leaders presenting himself as being in a dilemma,” SABC quoted Mbalula as saying.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter/@samkelemaseko
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
