Duarte says leaked Mbeki audio was not full picture

Duarte on Tuesday briefed reporters on the outcomes of the meeting.  

In the clip, Mbeki is heard stressing points made by NEC member, Dakota Legoete and Women's League president, Bathabile Dlamini about the possible collapse of the ANC. 

Duarte spoke about the leaked audio. 

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"That clip gave half a quarter of what he said and did not conclude what he talked about, which was the fact that we are a constitutional democracy and what these detractors are trying to do is to shift the focus to a parliamentary democracy, which takes away the rights of people in so many different ways, and which re-asserts what isn't what we wanted and where we started. 

"The criticisms that he levelled against these detractors in his speech were well-resourced criticisms not based on emotional finaglings but based on research and readings that he had done. The rest is left out." 

"The impression to the public is that comrade Thabo Mbeki came and said that is the ANC still alive? He [Mbeki] was asking a question that he answered in the debate. Very sad that we would be treated with such disrespect through leaks that then get published all over the place." 

There have been factional battles within the ANC which are being entrenched by the NEC's decision for members who are facing criminal charges to step aside pending the finalisation of their matters.  

They include Secretary-General Ace Magashule. who has been temporarily suspended after he refused to step aside. Following his suspension, Magashule sent out a suspension letter to  ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa. 

The ANC says he had not authority to take such action. 

The NEC's Special meeting has resolved that Magashule must publicly apologise for the letter.