When we talk about the ANC, we’re talking about a political party that has outlived its usefulness. They can sugarcoat it all they want, but without the ANC, this country would perish. However, they are well aware that the ANC is no longer relevant, and that the public has grown tired of it. They only talk about the things they did when they first came to power in 1994, and some of the things they didn’t do at all. They were carried out by the apartheid regime.
When the ANC intended to adopt the step aside rule, it was the talk of the town. This happened around the time of Ace Magashule and the R225 million asbestos tender audit. Magashule is thought to have done nothing but fail to play proper oversight. The state is now attempting to connect Magashule to any wrongdoing, and his case has been repeatedly postponed.
We have all believed that the ANC’s step aside rule applies to all members of the party, regardless of their status. Even President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that if he is indicted with corruption in court, he will resign. This is how they were able to suspend the ANC’s top official. They removed Ace Magashule as the party’s secretary-general.
However, the tables have now turned, and Gwede Mantashe is facing corruption allegations, after Deputy Chief Justice Raymond stated that Mantashe, Zuma, and Mokonyane should all be punished.
ANC top leaders do not have to step away while facing corruption allegations, according to ANC spokeswoman Pule Mabe. But what’s unusual is that Magashule was suspended despite being a high party official. It now appears that the step aside regulation was created specifically for him in order for him to exit politics.