ANC members who were expected to step-aside on Friday because of corruption charges against them have another week before they find out their fate.
The party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) gave the affected members 30 days to step aside or face suspension at its last meeting at the end of March.
Party spokesperson, Pule Mabe, has told the SABC that the ANC’s National Working Committee will process all reports from provinces on Monday and send them to the NEC ahead of its meeting next Saturday when a decision will be made. Those who are expected to step aside include party Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, Member of Parliament Bongani Bongo, Limpopo Treasurer Danny Msiza, and former eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede.
Mabe has again refuted claims that the step-aside resolution has been crafted to deal with Magashule, saying that narrative is misguided.
In conversation with Pule Mabe on ANC’s step-aside resolution:
Political analyst, Professor Lesiba Teffo, says ANC’s step-aside resolution is likely to have a devastating impact on the party’s electoral base ahead of the October 27 local government elections.
Teffo believes the implementation of the resolution will not end factionalism in the ANC.
“The conflict and the factions are so deeply rooted. Whoever comes in, whatever decision is taken, you don’t expect them after three days to say we will bury the hatchet. Perhaps they will try to find a solution politically but they have put themselves too much in a corner, not to get rid of Ace, the consequences not withstanding,” he adds.
