Staff Reporter
ANC chief whip in the Free State Legislature Vusi Tshabalala says the party’s secretary general Ace Magashule, who is facing charges of fraud and corruption, is not expected to step aside because the party does not have any such policy.
Tshabalala told journalists outside the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court ahead of Magashule’s first appearance that Magashule should be allowed to continue doing his work for the party and should not be disturbed because he has been linked to the alleged Free State asbestos corruption case.
“Why should he step aside? Step aside for what?” responded Tshabalala when asked if Magashule would step aside from his duties until the case is finalised.
“There is no such policy in the ANC. I was there at NASREC (for the ANC elective conference) and there is no such policy. I made contributions during that conference and the party never agreed on that. He doesn’t have to step down,” he added.
Tshabalala said the charges brought up against Magashule are frivolous because some people in the party are using state institutions to fight political battles.
“We have seen this before. It happened in 2007 with President Jacob Zuma when some people were using the Scorpions. Today the Hawks are being used to fight similar battles,” he said.
“We will bring up these issues when we go to the NGC (National General Council). We expect the branches to demand that we go to the NGC and we will correct the party there,” said the provincial chief whip.
Magashule is expected to be formally charged for fraud and corruption in relation to the failed asbestos audit project when he appears in court today.
He was the premier of the province when the contract was awarded around 2014.
A warrant for his arrest was issued on Tuesday and he was expected to hand himself to the police this morning before proceeding to court.
Seven other suspects have already appeared in court and are out on bail ranging from R50 000 to R500 000.
