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Top South African official due in court over corruption charges

South African police have issued an arrest warrant against a top official of the governing African National Congress (ANC) party on corruption charges, a spokeswoman for the country’s elite Hawks police unit said.

Ace Magashule, who told reporters he had done nothing wrong, has assured the party he will appear in court on Friday, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte said on Wednesday.

Magashule is ANC secretary-general and in charge of the day-to-day running of the party that has governed South Africa since the end of white-minority rule in 1994.

His arrest could have significant political ramifications if he has to take leave or resign from his influential position.

“He hasn’t been arrested as yet but the warrant has been signed,” Hawks spokeswoman in the Free State province, Lynda Steyn, told Reuters news agency by telephone.

Steyn confirmed a report by local news website, the Daily Maverick, that the warrant had been issued over allegations related to a contract to audit houses with asbestos roofs awarded while Magashule was premier of the Free State.

Asked about the report, Magashule said he was not worried and that he had done nothing wrong. “If it happens, it will happen, so I’m not worried at all,” he told reporters in footage broadcast by eNCA television.

“I haven’t done anything wrong as a law-abiding citizen,” added Magashule, who was filmed while campaigning in the Soweto township for the upcoming by-elections.

Will Magashule step down?

Meanwhile, top ANC officials did not discuss whether Magashule should step down during a meeting held on Wednesday, a senior party official said.

“We did not discuss that matter,” ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile told a news conference.

The ANC earlier said it learned of the arrest warrant through media reports and would monitor developments closely.

“The secretary-general [Magashule] stated on more than one occasion, including through his legal team, that he would cooperate with any process undertaken by law enforcement agencies,” the party said in a statement.

One of Magashule’s lawyers did not answer his phone or reply to messages.

Magashule is from a faction within the ruling party that has opposed President Cyril Ramaphosa since he replaced Jacob Zuma as head of state in February 2018.

Ramaphosa has been on a campaign to clean up the ANC’s image after a series of damaging scandals during Zuma’s nine-year tenure.

In August, Ramaphosa said ANC officials charged with corruption must take a leave of absence from their positions, and resign if convicted.

Another news report last month said Magashule’s arrest was imminent, but the Hawks dismissed it at the time.

 

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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