Push to reinstate Magashule on the cards

THE ANC in KwaZulu-Natal said it hoped the speculation relating to the removal of police protection at the Royal Palace was not an attempt to drive a wedge between the ANC-led government and the Royal House for “political expediency”.

Zulu Traditional Prime Minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, expressed concern for the safety of the newly named king of the Zulu nation Misuzulu kaZwelithini after claims that the SAPS started withdrawing its VIP protection.

The new king is the son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and the recently deceased Zulu regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, the sister of King Mswati III.

Following his selection on Friday, the new king had been facing threats and he had to be whisked away to safety by armed security personnel.

In a statement, Buthelezi said SAPS security was not provided on the basis of status, but on the basis of a threat assessment. “It seems perfectly clear that His Majesty the King would be placed in a vulnerable position if security were to be withdrawn at this point.

“Despite the clear and present danger this poses, I am informed that the brigadier in charge of the SAPS protectors stationed at the Palace, has confirmed to advocate Mshololo, who is also present at the Palace, that they have been instructed to withdraw (protection). Both the Zulu Royal Family and the Swati Royal Family are shocked by this sudden development,” he said.

But on Sunday, the office of the national police commissioner confirmed that security services had not been withdrawn. National police spokesperson Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo said: “Contrary to recent reports circulating in the mainstream and social media platforms, protection for the Royal Family in KwaZulu-Natal has not been withdrawn.

“It is rather unfortunate that information of such protection being withdrawn was made public without the SAPS leadership being approached for verification.”

Echoing Naidoo’s statement, KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala dismissed allegations that police protection had been withdrawn.

Zikalala verified that protection had not been withdrawn in talks with KZN police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Peggy Nkonyeni, and Police Minister Bheki Cele.

“Following these engagements, we hereby reject these allegations as baseless and misleading. All Royal Palaces are under the protection of the SAPS and this will continue. The Royal Protection Services are at the palace as we speak.

“In fact, there has even been a re-enforcement of security at all the palaces with the Tactical Response Unit (TRT). There will never be any effort to weaken security at the Royal Palaces of His Majesty the King.

“As the government has always done, we shall, at all times, take the responsibility of ensuring the safety and protection of the palaces and their inhabitants, especially His Majesty, the King,” said Zikalala.

ANC KZN provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli appealed to Buthelezi to verify information before issuing security- related statements to the public.

“The ANC is extremely concerned and deeply troubled by the suspected motive of whoever had advised Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi about the alleged withdrawal of the protection services to His Majesty, the King Misizulu kaZwelithini.

“We hope and sincerely trust that the intended agenda is not to create a schism between the ANC-led government and the Royal House or His Majesty the King for political expediency.”

Ntuli added that it was important to ensure that formal communication to society was grounded in facts rather than perception or incomplete information.

THE ANC under President Cyril Ramaphosa faces a major backlash for its decision to suspend secretary-general Ace Magashule, from the biggest party region in KwaZulu-Natal and supporters of North West suspended ANC MP and former premier, Supra Mahumapelo.

Yesterday, Mahumapelo lodged a veiled attack against the ANC top leadership for its decision to suspend Magashule, saying the move was in conflict with the Constitution, which stated that you were innocent until proven guilty.

Magashule was served with a suspension letter on Monday last week, following charges of fraud and corruption having been laid against him in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court in November last year.

In March, the ANC national executive committee (NEC) urged all those senior members charged with criminal offences or corruption to step aside or face suspension. The party gave all implicated individuals 30 days to step aside, but Magashule and ANC MP and former state security minister Bongani Bongo failed to comply with the order.

The two were served with suspension letters on last Monday. Two days later, Magashule also served ANC president Ramaphosa with a letter of suspension, saying he had also been named in acts of wrongdoing, but the ANC NEC rejected Magashule’s letter.

Magashule and Bongo were also barred from participating in the NEC meeting at the weekend in a clear show of support for Ramaphosa’s leadership.

Leaked audio from the virtual NEC meeting revealed that former president Thabo Mbeki also urged members to seriously consider the submissions made by Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabathe and ANC Women’s League leader Bathabile Dlamini and secretary-general Meokgo Motuba about the state of the ANC. Mathabathe raised the issue of hatred among ANC members within the party.

“Comrades in the ANC hate each other more than they hate the enemy or the opposition,” Mathabathe said.

He urged the party to consider holding a retreat for two or three days to deal with the differences within their ranks.

Mbeki said the ANC must discuss whether there was still an organisation called the ANC. He urged fellow NEC members to take to heart the comment made by Mathabathe and the women’s league duo, who were adamant that the ANC “was about to collapse”.

Despite Magashule’s absence, his supporters lodged a fightback inside the virtual NEC meeting by calling for a discussion on Ramaphosa’s purported “suspension”.

Leading the charge was the ANC’s Dakota Legoete – a close ally of Magashule – who urged Ramaphosa, in another meeting clip leaked to the media, to be the leader of the ANC and not “president of a faction”.

Mahumapelo and 68 branches of ANC in eThekwini region yesterday sang from the same hymn sheet. They shared Magashule’s sentiments that every cadre accused of, or reported to be involved in, corrupt practices should account to the Integrity Committee immediately or face disciplinary committee processes.

In his address to the North West Pastors’ Forum, Mahumapelo was very critical of his party’s decision to suspend Magashule, asking what it would do if Magashule was acquitted in a court of law.

“Some of the ANC’s resolutions taken at the national conference are in conflict with the laws of the republic. Let us not judge them while facing charges in court. What will happen if they are acquitted on all charges against them?” Mahumapelo asked.

In KZN, 68 branches lodged a twin campaign in favour of Magashule and Zuma. In their statement, read by Ntando Khuzwayo, chairperson of the Gedleyihlekisa sub-region, they called for the disbandment of the NEC.

Khuzwayo said most ANC members in their region were calling for the reinstatement of Magashule, or for the ANC NEC to be disbanded. They also vowed to resist attempts to arrest Zuma, even if the Constitutional Court made such a judgment following his refusal to appear before the Zondo Commission.