South Africa’s governing African National Congress has suspended its secretary general, Ace Magashule, and warned other members charged with corruption that they too face suspension if they don’t vacate their posts within 30 days.
Magashule denies charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering related to a tender to audit homes with asbestos roofs when he was premier of Free State province.
Tens of millions of dollars are believed to have disappeared.
Magashule is one of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s main rivals.
The ANC’s tougher code of conduct is being seen as a test of whether the party is serious about ending years of corruption within government.
