Trouble in RET paradise: Zuma and Magashule at WAR – report

The bromance between suspended African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Ace Magashule and the party’s former president Jacob Zuma is said to be on shaky ground ahead of the elective conference scheduled for December.

According to Sunday World, Zuma wants his ex-wife to be the one going head to head with his successor Cyril Ramaphosa at the conference. Zuma reckons Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is the ideal person from the so-called Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction of the ANC who can unseat his rival, but Magashule doesn’t agree with the move.

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ZUMA AND MAGASHULE CLASH AHEAD OF ANC CONFERENCE

Ace Magashule and his camp reportedly plan on throwing their weight behind former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize, instead of Dlamini-Zuma. Sunday World says Magashule is now planning a meeting with Jacob Zuma to inform him of their decision to back Mkhize.

The first signs of a rift between Magashule and Zuma was when the suspended secretary-general was noticeably absent at the High Court in Pietermarizburg on Monday, where the former president’s application to have advocate Billy Downer and journalist Karyn Maughan privately prosecuted, was to be heard.

The newspaper further claims Magashule and Mkhize have built quite the relationship, despite the fact that Zuma had a fallout with the disgraced former health minister. Zuma reportedly believes Mkhize turned his back on him after he was forced to resign as president.

Both Mkhize and Magashule have apparently held secret meetings, which was confirmed by Sphiwe Blose, Mkhize’s chief lobbyist.

“Comrades from the Free State indicated to us that we should meet and strengthen the campaign. The popular view is that comrade Khabazela (Mkhize) should be the face of the campaign. Our fixation is not on a particular slate, but ours is to make sure that all branches, in terms of their views and leadership preferences, are accommodated,” he is quoted as having told the publication.