Delivering his political report at the Free State ANC elective conference, Magashule came out in passionate support of Zuma.

Following a long delay to the start of the elective conference, he said people were feeding the media reports that the ANC in the Free State was divided, when it was united.

He focused on discipline and unity in the provincial structures, but referred at various times to national issues in his speech. He told delegates the party's national leaders were elected in Polokwane and had to be respected, even if individual members did not agree.

Magashule said those ANC members who appeared on television screens constantly were not real ANC leaders. He told delegates they had never seen Zuma promote himself on television.

Referring to the expulsion of ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema from the ANC, Magashule said there would be no discussion of disciplinary steps at Mangaung because the ANC constitution did not support it.

Malema's last hope to have his expulsion reversed lay with Mangaung delegates bringing a motion to have the matter discussed.

Magashule said he was stunned that leaders from outside ANC structures could proclaim the Free State leadership was divided.

He said people were using criminals to disrupt meetings in the Free State and they were the first to run to the media to tell it what was happening.

People from outside the province were attempting to disrupt the ANC's unity in the Free State with Mangaung in mind, he said.

Magashule told delegates it was time to fight for the ANC. He added that the youth did not belong to one man.

The conference was taking place despite two of the five provincial regions not having held their regional conferences yet.
Zuma was expected to address the event on Sunday.

Source: SAPA