‘Leave Zuma alone’ - Ace Magashule stands firm amid former president’s standoff with Zondo
African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Ace Magashule has called on Jacob Zuma’s critics to leave the former president alone.
Zuma has been mired in fresh controversy for his refusal to testify at the commission of inquiry into state capture.
The former head of state’s defiance comes in spite of the a Constitutional Court ruling ordering him to appear and testify at the commission..
Zuma is adamant that the commission’s chair, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, must recuse himself before he would considering telling his side of the state capture story.
The ANC has thus far been mum on the issue.
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But speaking in Soweto, where he was paying the party’s respects to the recently deceased struggle stalwart Rebecca Kotane, Magashule moved to defend Zuma.
Magashule - who is himself facing criminal charges - said he would not be calling Zuma to order because he doesn't "see anything wrong that he has done”.
"What has Zuma done?" Magashule questioned.
When quizzed on whether the governing party will entertain calls for Zuma to be suspended, Magashule said the issue is not up for discussion.
"President Zuma is a South African, he has his own rights. So you can't want me to talk on Zuma.
“No, why would we do that? Why should we suspend a person for what he believes in?" Magashule told journalists.
He said Zuma has the right to do what he wants.
He added that the ANC’s national executive committee has not had the opportunity to discuss calls for Zuma to be suspended.
