No timelines set for Zuma’s exit from power

The ANC top brass will continue to engage President Jacob Zuma about leaving office to give way to Cyril Ramaphosa to take over the reins.

This was a clear message from ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, who said no decision has been taken to recall the president yet. He said instead that Ramaphosa and other ANC officials would continuously engage Zuma not only on his stepping down but on the coordination between Luthuli House and the government.

“We have not arrived at a decision that Zuma must go or must not go – it’s you media that say that. This issue … is being discussed,” Magashule said.

The ANC national executive committee (NEC) also resolved that Zuma and former president Thabo Mbeki must be invited to its meetings to participate as ex-officio members.

Mbeki had never attended the NEC since he was unceremoniously ousted as ANC president in Polokwane and recalled as the country’s leader in September 2008. Meanwhile, the Free State Premier Magashule appeared unperturbed by the Vrede dairy project saga in the province, despite the investigation by the Asset Forfeiture Unit and seizure of the project that involved the Gupta family.

Magashule, along with some of his present and former MECs including Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane, are said to be implicated in the dairy project. Corruption amounting to hundreds of millions of rands emanated from state capture involving the Guptas is suspected in the state-sponsored community empowerment project. The project’s promises to communities, including 50% ownership did not materialise.

Answering questions from journalists during the post-Lekgotla media briefing at ANC headquarters, Luthuli House, in Johannesburg yesterday, Magashule said the ANC NEC resolved that the law must take its course where there is corruption. “We took a resolution that we must fight corruption. We agreed that where there is corruption the law must take its course. Whether it is the Vrede dairy, the law must take its course,” he said.

Magashule’s statement coincided with a call by the Democratic Alliance in the Free State for his role in the controversial dairy project to be investigated. DA Free State legislature leader Roy Jankielsohn called for Magashule to resign so he and some of his MECs can be probed over the dairy saga.

“Ramaphosa now has an opportunity to show that he is serious about fighting corruption. He should insist that Premier Ace Magashule tenders his resignation to the Free State Provincial Legislature without delay well before the upcoming State of the Province address next month,” said Jankielsohn.

“Magashule has zero legitimacy left to address the people of the Free State, his time is up and he must go.” The DA demanded that Zwane, the mineral resources minister and former Free State MEC for agriculture; Mamiki Qabathe, also an ex-MEC for agriculture; and finance MEC Elsabe Rockman should be included in the Vrede dairy investigations.

“Since Magashule became premier in 2009, he has engineered an extensive network of patronage under the pretext of Operation Hlasela that has benefitted his friends and cronies. The Vrede Dairy Project contracts are but some examples of this,” said Jankielsohn. “The political and financial support of this project, with the knowledge of the breaches of the law and other irregularities taking place there, makes senior ANC politicians complicit in the criminal activities that took place at the Vrede Dairy Project.”

Meanwhile, Magashule said funding for free higher education would be phased in gradually in the next five years. He was answering concerns as to whether the government could afford free education as unexpectedly announced by President Jacob Zuma late last year.

–ericn@citizen.co.za

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