Shortly after the second most senior official in South Africa’s ruling party was been released on R200 000 bail, he told ANC members: “If you don’t expropriate land and nationalism the mines, you are not a liberation movement.”

He wi9ll appear with seven other on February 19 next year when the matter is expected to be moved to the High Court in Bloemfontein where the ANC was founded 108 years ago.

Conditions of bail prevent Masgashule from making contact directly or indirectly with with his former personal assistant Moroadi Chalota who has turned state’s witness.

Chalota is understood to be studying in the United States.

The case relates to fraudulent tenders for asbestos roofing on economic housing during Magashule’s term as premier of Free State province.

Magashule allegedly sent money from the tender to officials and judges. He also allegedly solicited money for officials to travel to Cuba.

His lawyer Lawrence Hodes noted that the charge sheet does not mention his taking any money for himself.

Magistrate Amos Moos pointed out the inconsistency of Magashule appearing in the dock unshackled.

He stressed that his decision on bail has nothing to do with Magashule’s position in society

Prosecutor Johann de Nysschen said Magashule was not handcuffed because of the degree of cooperation by the accused who turned himself in to the serious crimes squad known as the Hawks this morning for arrest and processing from where he was transported to court 

Magashule was cheered by ANC officials in the court when he climbed up from cells into the dock where he sat alone.

More than a thousand people clamoured outside the court this morning  demanding to be let in.

Numbers were, limited because of social distancing necessitated by the COVID 19 pandemic.

The crowd illustrated the deep divisions within the ruling party.

It was divided between people demanding justice and an end to corruption and those alleging that the charges against Magashule are politically  motivated by President Cyril Ramaphosa who has never wanted him as the party’s secretary general.

They wore ANC regalia and carried banners in the colours of the ruling party.

This ran counter to Magashule’s request that his supporters avoid appearing officially to represent the ANC.

Leaders of the party present attended in their personal capacity.

They have not explained why Magashule has not been ordered to stand down, as party regulations require, until the criminal charges have been dealt with.

Magashule who maintains he is being targeted for his support of radical economic transformation and his opposition to white monopoly capital, told supporters the ANC does not belong to any individual. So its unity is important.

“The party has been infiltrated,” he said “There are those who are compromised  because they were working as agents during apartheid rule.

“Any revolution has counter revolutionaries,” he said.

He was elected by a collective of branches. Only they, and not individuals on the party executive, can order him to step down.

“Nobody can remove us,” he said, threatening ing to become a whistle blower

“They say Ace Magashule is corrupt. I will show you corruption. I will give you details about the people who are making a lot of noise.

“You know they have received money and are still receiving money today 

He accused his media critics of being sponsored by white monopoly and of failing to report the hundreds of  Free State student he sent to Cuba to study medicine while he was Free State premier.

He offered to give the media information about the houses built under his premiership and the infrastructural developments even though he doubted they would use it.

Magashule appearance follows that of former President Jacob Zuma who’s trial on graft charges starts next month.

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South Africa also officially took umbrage at what it called undiplomatic language by Rwanda’s Deputy Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe

Pretoria officially demonstrated its anger by withdrawing its  Ambassador to Kigali George Twala for consultations.

Rwanda’s Ambassador to Pretoria Vinvent Karega was summoned to the foreign ministry for an official dressing down.

The Rwanda government was incensed by Sisulu telling reporters in Pretoria that she had been in talks with General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, a former confidante of President Paul Kagame who sought refuge in South Africa after falling foul of the Rwanda leader.

At least three assassination attempts have been made on Nyamwasa in South Africa where he has formed the opposition Rwanda National Congress.

This has angered the South African government.

The last straw, however was the 2014 murder of former Rwandan intelligence chief Patrick Karegeya in a luxury Johannesburg hotel.

South Africa expelled three Rwandan diplomats based in Pretoria. 

Rwanda responded by expelling six South African envoys in Kigali.

An inquest into Karegeya’s death will start in Randburg next year.

Prosecutor Yusuf Baba says it will last 15 days with at least 30 witnesses due to give evidence.

These include employees of the hotel where Karegeya was strangled with a curtain cord.

Karegeya’s family, who insist his death was ordered by Kagame, have welcomed this.

In March, President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed his foreign minister to work on mending bilateral relations with Rwanda. 

It has come to light that the white-collar-crime unit known as the Hawks have urged Home Affairs to delay issuing visas to Rwandans until the Karegeya inquest is completed.

At their meeting during the AU special summit last month, Ramaphosa assured Kagame this matter would be speedily resolved.

South African diplomats say since their protests in Pretoria and Kigali the insulting and undiplomatic tweets from Rwanda officials have ceased.

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The cattle breeder says Zuma personally signed for the beasts that were delivered to his personal home Nkandla.

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The 24 cows and one bull worth more than 100 000 euros were paid for with public money and were supposed to have gone to emerging farmers in North West province,

Cattle breeder Lucas Msiza says he was instructed by NorthWest provincial premier Supra Mahumapelo to deliver them to Zuma’s home in KwaZulu/Natal.

NorthWest province was torn by violent protests last week calling for the premier to be sacked for corruption

President Cyril Ramaphosa came home early from the Commonwealth summit in London to deal with the crisis.

He says government is looking as serious issues in NorthWest concerning the premier’s position.

The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters have called on the Ombudsman, known in South Africa as the Public Protector, to probe the allegation of the gift cattle and to force Zuma to pay back the money if there is any impropriety.

Since being ousted in mid-February, Zuma has remained in the headlines.

Last week, 24 year old Nonkanyiso Conco said she had given birth to his 23rd child on April 12 which was Zuma’s 76th birthday.

She says he plans to make her his seventh bride.

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They say in an open letter to Zuma that the spat between the Hawks and Gordhan threatens to devastate the economy.

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Business Leadership South Africa president Saki Maconzoma says 18 months of work done by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and others to stave off a credit ratings downgrade to junk status has been jeopardised .

The president needs to act urgently.

If necessary he could  put the matter in the hands of the ombudsman, known here as the public protector

The letter was inked before Gordhan announced he would not present himself for questions under warning by the Hawks, who are investigating the formation of a special spy unit at the South African Revenue Service after Gordan left as taxman to become Finance Minister.

Zuma has issued a statement saying he has full confidence in Gordhan but he doesn’t have the power to stop the Hawks investigation.

Civil society members were at the Hawks headquarters in Pretoria yesterday (Thursday) when three of Gordhan’s colleagues made warning statements.

Their lawyer said no charges were preferred.

Former Constitutional Court judge Johan Kriegler says there’s not a shred of evidence against Gordhan

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