Magashule suffered another legal blow on Monday morning when the High Court in Johannesburg dismissed his application for leave to appeal his suspension from the governing party.

The application was dismissed with costs, upholding the decision for Magashule to step aside from his top job while waiting for his corruption case to be finalised.

On Monday, the court also rejected Magashule’s claims that the same court had arrived at its earlier decision in a biased manner. 

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe believes the court’s ruling was consistent with the party’s constitution. 

“I think it’s not really about feeling or not feeling vindicated. These are decisions that the ANC would have made. The ANC doesn’t necessarily have to come out victorious or joyous or celebrate the operationalisation of decisions that were effectively taken by congress,” says Mabe. 

“The ANC knows fully well that when it arrives at a decision at its own conferences, it does so in full recognition of the rights of its own members.”

The conditions of Magashule’s suspension include a ban on participating in party politics, addressing ANC supporters and speaking on behalf of the governing party. 

Political analysts believe Magashule’a absence from the campaign trail ahead of local government elections could prove detrimental for the party.

Magashule is known to be a firm favourite among supporters in some parts of the country, often leading from the front in the build-up to polls. 

But Mabe says the party will make do without him.

“Should it happen that the electioneering falls outside the review period and no different decision has been taken by the decision structure, whether the PEC or NEC or REC, then it means that those conditionalities attached to stepping aside would have to hold until such time that there’s a review,” Mabe adds. 

Magashule is among several high-profile leaders relegated by the party amid fraud and corruption investigations.