The African Congress for Transformation (ACT) leader, Ace Magashule has criticised the ANC for selectively applying the step-aside rule.
He said that the ANC was quick to force them to ‘step aside’ but it is failing to enforce the same rules on other members like Police Minister Senzo Mchunu who has since been put on special leave by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Magashule, who led the party as Secretary General, was addressing the media in Bloemfontein, on the sidelines of ACT National Council meeting.
“I think this case is not just hearsay, it is not just whistleblowing, I think Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has done his work. I think the NPA head Advocate Shamila Batohi also said it that the NPA is infiltrated by internal and external forces, and those are the people who are running what is called the Justice Cluster. Why are they not acting, why have people acted when there were allegations against us, why were we requested to step-aside.
“It’s not only when you are just arrested even the guidelines of the governing body says if there are all these allegations, they are serious.
“I think Mkhwanazi has been prevented from acting on certain things,” said Magashule.
The former Free State Premier also lambasted the government for failing to protect the citizens and focusing on protecting the interests of the master.
“Remember, President Ramaphosa is a president of commissions, committees, and of structures, because that government has nothing to do, it is captured, the master must first tell the government what to do and then they jump. I can tell you that regarding Mkhwanazi the intention is to defocus, and destruct attention from this real corruption of drug lords, mafias so the attention is now going to be Mkhwanazi. I can tell you at some stage the intention was to suspend him, but I think he is a strong man,” emphasised Magashule.
Magashule was accompanied by his deputy, former Head of the Hawks General Berning Ntlemeza.
According to Magashule, Ntlemeza was removed from his position because he was investigating politicians and members of parliament.
He alleges that some ANC members accused Ntlemeza of factionalising the police.
“I am sure General Ntlemeza was treated the same way, suspended because he had cases against certain people, certain ministers, and that is why he was removed from that position. I can’t talk on his behalf. I think we want to salute General Mkhwanazi and many others who will just be treated because we hear stories and allegations that General Dumisani Khumalo (Crime Intelligence Head) was arrested because they were starting to investigate certain people,” said the ACT leader.
Magashule has appealed to citizens to join marches that are calling for the resignation of the President and removal of Mchunu from cabinet.
“We are making a plea to South Africans and our members throughout the country to join those peaceful marches, that’s not a coup. There’s nobody planning a coup here to join the masses to make sure that we do away with this government of national betrayal.
“It is not a Government of National Unity, and that’s why they have come up with National Dialogue, because it is to destroy us. The ANC is nowhere in the ground,” remarked Magashule
Meanwhile, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has dismissed insinuations that the party is selectively applying the step-aside rule.
“There is no such thing as selective application of the step-aside rule. Step-aside deals with everyone, once you appear in court, the step aside rule will apply, once you are arrested, the step aside rule will apply,” explained Mbalula, who was addressing the media on the sidelines of the ANC National Working Committee meeting in Cape Town.
