There was no word from the ANC yesterday on the fate of embattled secretary-general Ace Magashule – the most high-ranking of party members expected to step down from their positions over criminal charges as the curtain drew on the 30-day period to do so.
Magashule, who told journalists earlier this month to "wait and see" when asked if he would step down, has not been sighted in public this week and his absence among the top six officials who accompanied President Cyril Ramaphosa to the Zondo commission has been conspicuous.
ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe did not respond to Sowetan's repeated attempts for comment on the fate of Magashule as yesterday marked exactly 30 days since Ramaphosa announced the step-aside decision of the national executive committee.
Mabe would only say that the secretary-general's office was represented by Magashule's deputy Jessie Duarte when asked about why he did not attend.
ANC veterans who spoke to Sowetan yesterday said that the party has to enforce the step-aside resolution by immediately removing those who refuse to voluntarily leave their positions despite facing charges.
Party veteran Mavuso Msimang said even though he expected the likes of Magashule to step aside today, he's "more hopeful than expecting" that some of them will comply with the resolution.
Given what we've been hearing about the need to be very careful as nobody has been given a deadline by which they must leave the organisation, Nomvula Mokonyane and Paul Mashatile said something similar, and that's a very worrying pronouncement," Msimang said.
He said the ball was in the ANC's court to ensure that resolutions of its national executive committee are implemented.
Msimang felt that statements from some current ANC leaders were "preparing the public in case Magashule doesn't want to step down".
The SG (secretary-general) that we have right now has not behaved like any other SG we've had in the history of the ANC, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't step down.
"What would remain for the ANC is to tell him to step down, it's as simple as telling a security guard at Luthuli House to go to his office and assist the secretary-general at the end of the day if he's still sitting there to get out of that office.
“And to arrange that the access keys be taken. If he doesn't go out, that's how it needs to be done.”
ANC Veterans League president Snuki Zikalala said the ANC has to take those who fail to step aside through a disciplinary process as per the resolution taken on this matter.
Zikalala said the league's view is that all ANC members and officials are equal before the law and those charged, including Magashule, have to step aside and clear their names.
“There are those who say they will appeal, they need to step aside first for the sake of complying with the resolutions of the ANC conference and the NEC,” Zikalala said.
– Additional reporting by Siviwe Feketha
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