Battle lines have been drawn in the ANC as rival party factions gear up for the fiercest fight in years

Battle lines have been drawn in the ANC as rival party factions gear up for the fiercest fight in years over the contentiuos step-aside resolution. Ace Magashule's suspension is in line with the party's step aside resolution which states that office bearers facing criminal charges step aside or be suspended. The ANC KZN Provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli, says the party's decision to push Magashule aside was expected and the party could have handled it differently. Meanwhile, party members from thirty-five branches in the Mahikeng sub-region in the North West, have condemned the move by the National Working Comittee and say their loyalty remains with the Secretary General.