ANC national chairman Gwede Mantashe has defended party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula after his predecessor, Ace Magashule, called him a “child” in politics.
‘Mbalula is not a boy’
Mantashe spoke at the ANC Free State elective conference at Imvelo Safari Lodge in Mangaung on Friday, where he was back in Magashule.
“From where I sit, Mbalula is not a boy. He is the secretary general of the ANC,” Mantashe said.
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“I spoke to some of the NEC [national executive committee] members… they ask about [Magashule’s comments] and I said if I am Mbalula I will not respond.
Magashule ‘hit a cul-de-sac’
Mantashe also appeared to insinuate that Magashule’s political career had come to an end.
“When I mentor a young person and see them as a young person forever, it doesn’t speak about the young person. It speaks about me. That means I’m in a cul-de-sac because I have to be able to produce someone who grows up and takes over from me and be my leader. [By doing that]I play the role of a leader,” he said.
Magashule made him said ahead of an appearance in the Bloemfontein High Court in relation to the R225 million Free State asbestos corruption case.
He said Mbalula was one of those people who were prepared for politics.
“He is from Botshabelo. In the 80s, he was one of the boys I looked after and he was still a boy,” Magashule said.
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The former ANC secretary general also said that Mbalula even contacted him to try to mend their relationship.
Mbalula had earlier publicly criticized Magashule, saying the Free State Prime Minister would destroy what was left of the ANC if he was elected party secretary-general.
“Ace Magashule is definitely not, no, people will finish what is left of our movement. They will kill,” Mbalula tweeted in 2017.
ANC Free State Conference
Magashule’s political career suffered a blow at the weekend as his dominance in the Free State ended at the ANC provincial conference.
None of Magashule’s allies in the province was elected as the provincial leader of the party.
Despite the faction trying to stop the conference through an interdict, Magashule’s archenemy, Mxolisi Dukwana, was named as the new ANC Free State provincial chairman.
On Friday, after his appearance, the former ANC secretary-general claimed that the process leading up to the conference had been rigged and that those associated with him were guaranteed to disappear.
Magashule also maintained that the corruption case against him was politically motivated.
“This is a waste of time, this case is politically motivated to prevent me from participating in the elective conference, and now that it is the goal, I am sure it will be faster.”
The matter was adjourned to May 5, 2023.
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