UPDATE: Magashule suspending Ramaphosa is NOT fake news

Earlier this evening, many media outlets received a statement that purported that ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule had suspended ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.

While the statement seemed official, the ANC later said it was fake.

This statement coincided with the leaking of a letter between Magashule and Ramaphosa on Monday, regarding the step-aside resolutions.

UPDATE: ‘I’m still the secretary-general’ – Defiant Magashule sticks to his guns

The ANC initially told The Citizen the letter from Magashule suspending Ramaphosa was not real.

“In this digital age, anyone can create anything. Any communication about the ANC would have come from us,” ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe told The Citizen.

However, Mabe later went on TV to say the opposite and confirmed that the letter was real. An official ANC statement also confirmed it.

Mabe has intimated on Newsroom Afrika that Magashule is most likely mistaken if he believes he has the power to reinstate himself and suspend Ramaphosa

ALSO READ: First take: Ace suspends Cyril – what in the actual hell?

@MYANC response to the statement by Secretary General Comrade Ace Magashule. pic.twitter.com/yV7KSgOUCG

— African National Congress (@MYANC) May 5, 2021

Parts of the press release stemmed from Magashule’s official letter to Ramaphosa on Monday declaring that his CR17 campaign had been reported to the Serious Offences Directorate of the ANC, where Magashule indicated that Ramaphosa himself should let the party know that Ramaphosa’s suspension would be in the best interests of the party.

Below is the full Wednesday letter from Magashule to Ramaphosa, as released (or leaked).

pic.twitter.com/2FuK6oNyJL

— Ace Magashule (OFFICIAL) (@Magashule_Ace) May 5, 2021

The Citizen initially apologised for the mistake and retracted the article in its entirety, which turned out to be unnecessary.

READ NEXT: Hmmm … Ace Magashule’s little chess picture made the game all too clear