By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
For over 10 years now the ANC in the Free State has been divided along factional lines.
At the heart of the disunity was Ace Magashule – an influential figure in the region for the past 30 years.
For years, ANC conferences in the Free State elected Magashule as chairperson and presented his name to former president Thabo Mbeki for appointment as premier, but Mbeki rejected him.
When Zuma captured the ANC in 2007 in Polokwane, Magashule’s road to the premier’s office was paved in gold.
Despite a global recession, Magashule’s first order of business was to buy 10 Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles for himself and his MECs.
It was the beginning of an ugly chapter for the people of the province.
Magashule is now in court for his alleged role in the R250-million asbestos-roofs scandal.
Now that his new party, the African Congress for Transformation, has failed to get on the ballot, would-be Magashule supporters are looking for a new home.
ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is campaigning in the province this weekend, selling the story of a renewed ANC. He said he wants to end factions in the ANC, and state capture and looting in the public service.
DA leader John Steenhuisen was in the now decaying city of Mangaung (Bloemfontein) this week, telling residents that the DA’s positive achievements in Cape Town could help turn their city around if they voted the party into power.
Jacob Zuma’s Umkhonto Wesizwe is also campaigning in the Free State, hoping Magashule supporters will flock to MK and give it a significant share of the vote in the province.
Julius Malema who tried to recruit Magashule to the ranks of the EFF last year said the former ANC boss miscalculated. In the EFF, Magashule would already be a Member of Parliament earning over R1.2-million.
With so many parties now gunning for the Free State, Ramaphosa knows the ANC is no longer guaranteed to get an outright majority in the province.
At least not without a fight.
Pictured above: ANC campaigning in the Free State.
Image source: X
