Ace Magashule remains ANC secretary-general after recount

Following a dispute over 68 votes not included in the final tally for the ANC’s top six leadership elections, it has been reported that Ace Magashule will remain the governing party’s secretary-general.

The ANC steering committee has reportedly decided to disqualify most of the 68 votes.

Today’s decision by the steering committee could likely lead to a legal challenge by disgruntled ANC delegates believed to be from the Vhembe district in Limpopo and the Abaqulusi district in KwaZulu-Natal.

eNCA is also reporting that after the votes were counted, they failed to make any material difference to the results and Free State Premier Ace Magashule remained the new secretary-general of African National Congress.

“The Tlokwe election results court ruling was clear that you can’t deny a voter his or her voting because of administrative incompetence. If the 68 votes were legally part of the conference, they have to be counted,” an unofficial statement passed to the media read.

The Mail & Guardian is also reporting that an inside source has revealed that, to the surprise of many, newly elected deputy president DD Mabuza has sided with the proponents of Nasrec 68, and insisted it’s fair their votes be counted.

This exposes fissures, as this contradicts what fellow ‘Premier League’ leader Supra Mahumapelo has consistently told the media. He warned the Senzo Mchunu camp to desist from insisting on the inclusion of the ‘missing 68 votes’, or plenary would be asked to decide if a complete revote of the top six should take place.

Another delegate, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that a spanner was thrown in the works when Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma threw her weight behind calls for the inclusion of the sealed boxes from the 68 delegates.

“Very tellingly, she is fed up with the Ace Magashule [camp], and feels if those votes could dislodge him from the top six, it will be poetic justice after being assured on several occasions when she wanted to pull out of the race that she will emerge victorious,” said the source.

The new leadership is currently on the podium during a closed plenary session expected to deal with the announcements of the NEC and conference resolutions, to be made to the media this afternoon.

This is a developing story. 

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