In court papers filed to the Johannesburg High Court, and seen by Eyewitness News, President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC Deputy Secretary-General Jesse Duarte have also been cited as respondents in addition to the governing party.

Magashule wants the court to enforce a suspension letter he issued to the governing party’s president.

The corruption-accused former Free State premier wants his suspension to be declared unlawful and return to Luthuli House to manage the affairs of the ANC.

He also calls on the court to declare the ANC’s step aside resolution as unlawful, unconstitutional and invalid.

Magashule claims the resolution has been unfairly implemented by a faction aligned to Ramaphosa, in a bid to oust him as the party’s secretary-general.

He said senior party members, like his predecessor and party Chairperson Gwede Mantashe as well as fellow national executive committee member Zizi Kodwa, who are implicated in corrupt activities had not been affected by the step aside resolution because they belong to Ramaphosa’s faction.

Magashule said the resolution was sowing divisions within the ANC, and could potentially collapse the governing party.

Eyewitness News