Magashule: Let those who write, write whatever they want to write
ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has distanced himself from the protests around the Pieter-Louis Myburgh book Gangster State: Unravelling Ace Magashule's Web of Capture’.
Magashule addressed the 26th anniversary of the death of former SACP leader Chris Hani in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday.
Myburgh which hit the shelves last week, details several claims of corruption and state capture against Magashule during his time as premier of the Free State.
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On Tuesday, a group of protestors, claiming to be ANC members, stormed the Exclusive Books in Sandton and disrupted the official launch of the book.
The ANC Youth League in the Free State has also threatened to burn copies of the book.
“It is unfortunate that comrades burned this book. It’s unfortunate. There is no intellectualism about it, but what we need to do is that we have fought for freedom of speech. Let those who write, write whatever they want to write. When you burn their book, you make them so special. I think we must condemn that. All the ANC structures, leaders and branches must never be provoked by agent provocateurs.
“We must just move on, if you know, the truth one day will triumph. You just move on and focus, and you walk comrades until the truth has been exposed.”
SACP general-secretary Blade Nzimande also condemned the group’s actions.
“These comrades who have got an issue about this book regarding our SG, have a right to raise objections and criticize that book. We give them that, but they have no right in our name to go and disrupt the launch of the book and also threaten to burn the book.
“They have no right to do so, that is wrong. We are glad the ANC has condemned that because that is taking us back to the dark ages.”