At the centre of the contentious statements is ANC Secretary-General and former Free State Premier Ace Magashule’s controversial Honorary Doctorate awarded by the Turkish tertiary institution, Bahcesehir University that same year.

The DA – Jankielsohn in particular – cast doubt around the legitimacy of the honorary doctorate, alleging the Turkish University in question had received approximately R32 million from the provincial government over the 2016/17 financial year prior to awarding Magashule the doctorate. He explains that the ANCYL made defamatory and derogatory comments about him in the public space thereafter. “The ANCYL made defamatory comments about me calling me a clown, a redneck, a racist, a Chihuahua and various other things instead of dealing with the issues which we raised. They chose to defame me in a statement in public,” says Jankielsohn.

On Thursday, April 18, the ANCYL’s lawyers contacted Jankielsohn’s legal representation indicating they would like to meet first, before proceeding with the matter. The DA Member of the Provincial Legislature says the respondents in the civil matter have indicated that they would like to change their plea. He did not elaborate further, as the discussion is yet to take place. The ANCYL, on the other hand, has confirmed to OFM News that it is opposing the matter. They further allege that Jankielsohn is claiming R1 million for what he calls defamation of character.

The ANCYL in the province has in recent weeks again come to Magashule’s defence, following the release of journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s highly publicised book, Gangster State. The Provincial Chairperson of the youth league said on Facebook that they planned to burn Myburgh's book at the Mangaung dumping site in the south on 15 April 2019 at 17h00. The youth league was, however, forced to make a U-turn on its plans following pressure from the media and the ANC leadership. ANCYL spokesperson, Sello Peterson, told OFM News at the time that they engaged with the ANC leadership and were convinced not to proceed with their plans to burn the book. Peterson said their decision to burn the book was to protect the principal and leadership of the party from what he says is an attempt by the journalist to assassinate Magashule’s character. Jankielsohn is featured and quoted in the book.

OFM News