In a significant development, the African National Congress (ANC) officially expelled its former secretary-general, Ace Magashule, on Monday.
Why was Ace Magashule expelled from the ANC?
The decision was confirmed by the party’s National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).
Magashule’s expulsion comes after his failure to respond to the NDC within the given seven-day period, during which he was required to justify why he should not face a permanent axing from the political party to which he had devoted decades.
The NDC found Magashule guilty of bringing the party into disrepute due to his unauthorised attempt to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa and his refusal to apologise despite being instructed to do so by the party.
This expulsion places Magashule’s future within the ANC in jeopardy.
Magashule in hot water as SIU launches graft investigation
However, the troubles for Magashule do not end there.
Ramaphosa, on Friday, 9 June 2023, authorised a fresh investigation into transactions that occurred during Magashule’s tenure as the premier of the Free State, per Daily Maverick.
The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has been granted the authority to delve into several allegations, including severe maladministration and instances of fruitless and wasteful expenditure within the Office of the Free State Premier.
The SIU’s investigation will particularly scrutinise the Office of the Premier’s annual report for the 2017/2018 financial year. This investigation aims to uncover irregularities related to the approval, allocation, or payment of bursaries, including issues regarding travel, accommodation, and stipends given to ineligible individuals.
The probe will also focus on payments associated with student accommodation and any maladministration or financial losses incurred by the Office of the Premier or the State.
Previous reports have shed light on concerning incidents involving Magashule. One such instance involved the approval of exorbitant scholarships for personal and government officials’ overseas studies, which raised questions about financial mismanagement. Notably, the University of Cape Town (UCT) offered the same program at a significantly lower cost, leading to further scrutiny.
The SIU is authorised to initiate civil action and will refer any evidence of potential criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further investigation.
As the ANC expels Magashule and a fresh investigation begins, his legal woes seem to be mounting. The outcomes of these proceedings will not only impact his political future but could also have far-reaching legal consequences.