He said they are actually friends with Bongo and come from far together.
Ehlanzeni ANC deputy convener Ngrai Ngwenya says he will stop supporting NEC member Bongani Bongo the day he is found guilty by a court of law.
Ngwenya also said he doesn’t support the NEC’s step-aside rule as it will be used by factions to target comrades in the party.
He spoke to 013NEWS soon after Bongo and a string of others made an appearance Tuesday 4 May 2021 at the Mbombela Magistrates Court.
Ngwenya said apart from being Bongo’s friend he believes that “all ANC comrades should support one another”.
“I support him because he is a member and leader of the ANC,” Ngwenya told the 013NEWS reporter, “and that’s what each and every member should do. We should support one another until the court proves that such member is guilty,” he said.
ALSO SEE: ANC in Mpumalanga not happy with Magashule stepping aside
Ngwenya had been with Bongo throughout the Cape Town case where Bongo was finally acquitted of the alleged bribery of Parliament evidence leader Ntuthuzelo Vanara.
The Mbombela case was postponed to January 2021 for pre-trial proceedings.
Bongo, who is also friend’s with Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, represented Ngwenya when he was faced with a disciplinary hearing instituted by the Mpumalanga ANC PEC more than 5 years ago.
They apparently don’t see eye to eye with acting ANC secretary Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, while all of them support embattled secretary-general Ace Magashule.
ALSO SEE: Bongani Bongo: ‘We know the people behind the charges’
Ngwenya said he doesn’t support the NEC’s step-aside decision as it will be used to target certain leaders.
“You see the main problem in the ANC, people are fighting each other. They can use the step-aside to take out other people of the ANC simply because they don’t agree with them,” Ngwenya said.
(edited by ZK)
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