New ANC nomination rules for members wanting to stand for the national executive committee (NEC) in December have shut the door on suspended secretary-general Ace Magashule, reports TimesLIVE.

Magashule will not be the only casualty, if other serving NEC members implicated in the state capture report are charged by the NPA.

The Hawks and NPA said earlier those implicated in the Zondo report could be charged and arrested next month.

Nominations for the ANC December elective conference – from 16 to 20 December – open on 7 September.

The new rules, as formulated by the ANC electoral committee led by former secretary-general Kgalema Motlanthe, prevent those charged with ‘serious crimes and immoral conduct’ from being nominated.

Speaking at Luthuli House yesterday, Motlanthe said ‘serious crimes’ means a charge which may result in a prison sentence of six months or more.

It did not matter if the case was pending: as long as there was a formal charge one was disqualified.

Magashule has been charged with corruption, fraud and racketeering, so the new rules disqualify him, even if the step-aside rule is scrapped.

Those at risk of being charged for state capture include Nomvula Mokonyane, David Mahlobo, Mosebenzi Zwane, Thabang Makwetla, Gwede Mantashe, Siyabonga Cwele and Faith Muthambi, all of whom Chief Justice Raymond Zondo recommended be investigated.

Motlanthe said the tightening of the rules was part of the party’s moral regeneration and to ensure that branches have ‘the best’ leaders to choose from for the NEC.

Full TimesLIVE report