Ace Magashule
ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule Photo: FB

Home » Reports of Warrant Issued for Ace Magashule’s Arrest Unfounded Says Author

Reports of Warrant Issued for Ace Magashule’s Arrest Unfounded Says Author

Reports on Tuesday 6 October of a warrant issued for the arrest of former Free State Premier and current ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule are unfounded says Pieter-Louis Myburgh, author of 2019’s ‘Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule’s web of capture‘. The investigative journalist tweeted at around 23h30 on Tuesday evening: “Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi has […]

By SAPeople
07-10-20 00:46
in Featured
Ace Magashule
ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule Photo: FB

Reports on Tuesday 6 October of a warrant issued for the arrest of former Free State Premier and current ANC Secretary General Ace Magashule are unfounded says Pieter-Louis Myburgh, author of 2019’s ‘Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule’s web of capture‘.

The investigative journalist tweeted at around 23h30 on Tuesday evening: “Hawks spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi has just confirmed that an @IOL report detailing alleged arrest warrant for #AceMagashule is fake news.”

The spokesperson apparently said: “It’s fake news sir, maybe there’s another Hawks we (are) not aware of.”

According to IOL, Magashule had confirmed to them on Tuesday night at around 20h30, after sending him questions, that he knew of his intended arrest. “I’m aware. I’m aware,“ he apparently told IOL. ’’It’s going to be a Hollywood style type of thing. But we will see.”

Myburgh later (after midnight) added: “You gotta love South African politics. On the very same night, #AceMagashule both claimed and denied that he was on the verge of being arrested. Schrödinger’s Ace!”

According to Myburgh, Hawks Spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said: “The Hawks would like to categorically distance itself from the IOL report regarding the so called Impending arrest against Mr Ace Magashule. The DPCI view the report as a malicious intent to undermine the integrity of the organization.”

IOL responded with a new report, after midnight, in which the media outlet claimed Magashule “rebutted” news that his intended arrest was fake news, saying “they shouldn’t spin it now”. According to IOL: “Magashule has gone on record to confirm to Independent Media that he is aware that his name appears on a list of people allegedly earmarked for arrest by the NPA.”

After days of speculation – following the arrest of others in the Free State, including Edwin Sodi and his co-accused – news of an alleged warrant for Magashule’s arrest on Tuesday spread through South African media, with the SABC reporting that a “reliable source” had informed them that Magashule had been issued with a warrant for his arrest in connection with the Vrede Dairy Farm project.

Meanwhile Pule Letshwiti-Jones from etvNews tweeted: “The #ANC has just told @etvNewsSA they don’t know whats the warrant of arrest in relation to. However sources in the ANC say #AceMagashule is in consultation. It’s not clear whether talks are with his legal team or the President. Story is developing. #CorruptionPandemic”

In Myburgh’s book, he alleged that Magashule bent, broke or bulldozed over clearly defined laws meant to ensure proper governance in the Free State during his time as Premier, creating a network of state-capture that made millions off taxpayers.

Myburgh told Carte Blanche that he believed Magashule was an “even more important ally than Jacob Zuma” to the Gupta family. He said “we should be terrified”.