Rival factions in the ANC are squaring up for a showdown at this weekend’s NEC meeting with knives out for suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule.
Magashule has been suspended for refusing to step aside despite facing criminal charges and on Wednesday night he hit back, issuing a notice suspending Ramaphosa in response.
But Magashule’s actions have been dismissed out of hand as illegitimate.
Tony Yengeni has warned if cooler heads don’t prevail, the standoff could split the party.
“Only if we calm down, sit around the table and be reasonable with one another,” Yengeni said.
“And try to accommodate each other’s views, then I think the ANC will avoid any form of split or division.”