We must disagree with ‘Gangster State’ peacefully and constitutionally – Magashule

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has called for calm in response to the disruption of a book launch to Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s book titled Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule’s web of capture during the weekend.

Protesters crashed the book launch in Sandton and tore up pages from the book which suggested Magashule was exaggerating his struggle credentials.

In response to the fracas, Magashule issued a statement saying the party urged South Africans to adhere to the core values of the movement, by engaging in the “battle of ideas”.

“This is in response to the disruption of the book launch last night in Sandton, the announcement of a book-burning event in Mangaung, and threats against authors and journalists.

“The Constitution and laws of the country allow for channels to follow when we disagree with information and ideas, whether in books or the media. I have indicated to my organisation that I am pursuing legal action against the false allegations made in the book.

“In addition, where we disagree with views expressed in books, the media and other platforms, we must use peaceful and constitutional means to engage those who peddle lies and fake news.

“Those purporting to be ANC members and supporters disrupting book launches, [burning] books, and [intimidating] authors and journalists in my name or to be revolutionary should desist, because these are actions of political intolerance and against freedom of expression for all South Africans,” said Magashule.

His statement comes after a poster had been doing the rounds on social media advertising a plot to burn the book in a bonfire in Mangaung on Monday.

Comment: This is bone-chilling. A poster suggests an organised and funded campaign. The embers of fascism. pic.twitter.com/U2R48PDNqx

— Ferial Haffajee (@ferialhaffajee) April 10, 2019

The poster, which comes after ANC supporters expressed their disdain for the book, invites people to take part in a bonfire event where copies of the book will be burnt on Monday, April 15, at 5pm at the Mangaung South dumping site.

ANC Youth League Free State spokesperson Sello Pietersen said the league regarded the book as nothing more than fabricated lies intended to cause panic within the ANC ahead of the May elections.

“We wish to state it categorically that we are unapologetic about our support to the secretary-general of the ANC, Ace Magashule, who is a tried and tested product of the African National Congress, nurtured, grilled, and baptised in the traditions and values of our movement. We, therefore, do not need any endorsement from white monopoly capital agents regarding his struggle credentials. We know them and shall defend him.

“We, therefore, urge society to bring along as many copies of this puke as possible, as well as any material that reflects the barbaric past, such as the old apartheid flag, along to our fireplace,” Pietersen said.

(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane)

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