ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s faction may have lost the battle but the war is not over as they may push for the party to reverse its step-aside resolution at the upcoming national general council.
This is according to political analyst and Nelson Mandela University lecturer Ongama Mtimka who believes the radical economic transformation (RET) grouping may still have an ace up its leave.
The RET will either tow the party line and have those indicted in court step aside until their cases have been finalised, or they will intensify their fight.
This, as a heated ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting resolved that those facing criminal charges should step aside within 30 days or face being suspended.
The ANC in the Eastern Cape has already suspended Amathole regional task team co-ordinator Teris Ntutu and Dr WB Rubusana regional chair Phumlani Mkolo, while former health MEC Sindiswa Gomba will have a disciplinary hearing.
Former Nelson Mandela Bay ANC regional secretary Zandisile Qupe and Zukiswa Ncitha, have recused themselves from ANC structures.
Buffalo City metro councillor Luleka Simon-Ndzele has also been instructed to step aside.
They are all out on bail on fraud, corruption and money laundering charges.
ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said they would continue implementing the step-aside resolution without fear or favour.
Those vehemently opposed to the step-aside resolution have argued that when people step aside before they are proven guilty in a court of law, that ruins political careers.
“The ANC resolution does not speak about people that have been found guilty — it speaks about people that have been indicted,” Ngcukayitobi said.
“Now we cannot have someone waiting for trial representing and being the face of the ANC.”
He said the step-aside resolution would apply to every ANC member.
“Anybody that refuses to step aside will be formally suspended from the organisation and their participation in the organisation will be regulated.
“We are implementing this without fear or favour.”
Magashule is one of the ANC members who have refused to step aside, saying only ANC branches would remove him.
This is despite the NEC — the highest decision-making body of the ANC between conferences — having removed two sitting presidents before.
Mtimka said the RET faction could either up the ante or tow the party line.
“They could strengthen the campaign and mobilise the branches to push for a reversal at the ANC National General Council (NGC).
“The NGC has the mandate to reverse some decisions taken by the ANC.”
The NGC is expected to be in June, where the ANC will discuss its policies.
Human Science Research Council senior research specialist and political analyst Joleen Steyn Kotze said the decision on the step-aside resolution could point to the party trying to reclaim its integrity.
“However, in all probability, we will see internal contestations carry on.
“The ANC has a long history of factionalism dating back to 2007.”
She said such battles were embedded within the political culture of the party.
“It looks like the Ramaphosa administration found a middle ground.
“Internally, they are telling people you must vacate or step aside but the broader question of accountability remains.”
Ngcukayitobi said previously that there was a threat of the RET faction forming a splinter party, which he said was a reality that could no longer be ignored.
“We can’t say people must go outside the ANC because we want people to observe what the ANC stands for,” he said.
While the SA constitution allows people to join or establish their own party, “they should not establish their organisations in the belly of the ANC”.
The SACP has welcomed the 30-day deadline for ANC members with legal woes to step aside.
“Decisive implementation of the resolution will go a long way in clamping down on state capture and other forms of corruption within our broader movement, the state and the economy,” it said in a statement.
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