African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Ace Magashule has called senior ANC leader Derek Hanekom “a charlatan” and “wedge driver.”
Magashule’s extraordinary comments are contained in a late-night statement the ANC issued on Wednesday night.
He was responding to Hanekom’s admission that he met Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in 2017 to discuss removing former President Zuma from office.
He said ANC is “dismayed” by Hanekom’s admission because he had “full access to air his acerbic views in the NEC [National Executive Committee) of the ANC.”
The ANC called for an open vote and it is Hanekom and others who put pressure on the Speaker to accede to the demand by the EFF for a secret ballot.
ANC SG Ace Magashule
Magashule said EFF’s agenda is to displace ANC from power and to divide the ANC by using “a number of sleepers” inside the ANC.
The ANC is working to unite its members and in our midst is Derek Hanekom, a wedge driver and on a mission to divide the ANC.
Indeed this charlatan is making his mark through his ownership of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.
ANC SG Ace Magashule
The Secretary General added that Hanekom has no capacity to form a political party but has a “remarkable agility” in dividing the ANC.
He said ANC will unite behind President Cyril Ramaphosa to defeat Hanekom’s “nefarious actions.”
Hanekom has not yet responded to Magashule’s statement. However, EFF leaders have been quick to react.
On Twitter, Julius Malema cited the passage calling Hanekom a charlatan and termed it “profound.”
EFF Deputy President Floyd Shivambu said they still have the list of ANC MPs who voted against Zuma in the 2017 motion of no confidence.