Six things Magashule is banned from doing, after being ‘suspended WITH pay’

A day many suspected would not come has actually arrived on Wednesday, and the ANC has stuck to its guns on the ‘step aside’ rule. After giving Ace Magashule 30 days to temporarily vacate his position in the party while he remains accused of corruption, his decision to ignore the deadline has prompted the party to force Ace’s hand.

Ace Magashule suspended – and banned from these activities

Magashule has been suspended, and although he remains on full pay, he is now severely limited in what he can – and cannot – do under the banner of the ANC. In total, six major restrictions have been placed on the 61-year-old:

• Ace Magashule is banned from carrying out ANY duties in his role as ANC Secretary-General.
• He is not allowed to ‘represent the ANC publicly’ while suspended from the party.
• Magashule ‘cannot make pronouncements’ on behalf of the ANC – he has no authority to speak for the party.
• Ace is also banned from ‘mobilising or organising’ other party structures to protest his suspension.
• He cannot go ‘longer than a month’ without informing the party about how his criminal case is progressing.
• And finally, he is limited from appealing the ANC’s decision UNLESS the party agrees to hear his case.

What next for suspended SG?

Magashule is accused of ‘graft’ in Free State. While he ruled as the provincial premier, the political veteran stands accused of orchestrating a fraudulent operation worth more than R250 million, enriching himself and his cronies through an alleged ‘asbestos auditing contract’. He has been charged by the Hawks, and further litigation awaits.

“You [Ace Magashule] have been indicted to appear in a court of law on charges of corruption and fraud, as well as money laundering. Accordingly, you are hereby suspended temporarily, effective from Monday 3 May, up until the final outcome of your court proceedings. This suspension is in the best interests of our organisation.”

ANC statement, signed by Jessie Duarte