Ace Magashule is not ready to accept his suspension from his cushy job at the ruling ANC even though he is facing serious criminal charges and is out of jail on bail of R200 000.
On Thursday Magashule’s lawyers – led by Advocate Dali Mpofu – spent the day arguing why his suspension was in breach of the constitution and unlawful.
The South Gauteng High Court earlier threw out three applications from other parties intent on joining the matter as friends of the court.
Magashule has been on bail since he made his first appearance in a packed Bloemfontein Magistrates Court in November last year, where he faced charges of fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
The charges relate to the controversial 2014 Free State asbestos roofing removal project that cost the Free State human settlements more than R200m. Magashule was premier of the Free State when the money was siphoned off.
Matters came to a head after the ANC resolved that members charged with serious crimes must step aside from their party positions until they are cleared by the courts.
The secretary-general refused to step aside and instead wrote a letter saying he had suspended the party president, Cyril Ramaphosa.
His actions led to his suspension with pay, which he is now challenging in court.
Magashule told the court in Bloemfontein when he was applying for bail that he earns R133 000 a month as secretary-general of the ANC.
He is now trying to persuade the full bench comprising judges Jody Kollapen, Edwin Molahleli, and Sharise Weiner at the South Gauteng High Court that he was unfairly targeted with the step aside rule and suspended.
Mazwai Attorneys, supported by advocate Wim Trengrove SC, advocate Ngwako Maenetje SC, advocate Fana Nalane SC and advocate Buhle Lekokotla are acting for the ANC.
The party insists it acted above board and within its rights when it suspended Magashule.
The matter continues on Friday.
