TUESDAY, 3.30PM
FORMER Free State MEC Ace Magashule has received the go-ahead to take up his seat in the National Assembly when Parliament reconvenes in August.
Magashule was at the centre of last year’s bitter power struggle in the Free State government, which led to the removal of premier Patrick “Terror” Lekota to be redeployed as chairman of the National Council of Provinces, and Magashule’s redeployment to Parliament.
In a statement on Tuesday, the African National Congress said its national working committee, which met on Monday night, had discussed the auditor-general’s report on the Free State. It had noted that on the basis of evidence available to the auditor-general and the Free State’s public accounts committee, Magushule had not been found guilty of any impropriety. The statement was referring to allegations during last year’s power struggle within the ANC in the province that Magushule had embezzled funds.
The meeting, attended by, among others, President Nelson Mandela, party chairman Jacob Zuma, acting secretary-general Cheryl Carolus and ANC representatives of the nine provinces, decided that Magushule’s “redeployment” should proceed. It had been held in abeyance until investigations were completed into the allegations of impropriety against Magashule.