1. Elias Sekgobelo "Ace" Magashule was born on 3 November 1959 and is a South African politician and former anti-apartheid activist who served as the Secretary General of the African National Congress, South Africa's governing party, between December 2017 and his suspension on 3 May 2021.
Ace Magashule served as the Premier of the Free State, one of South Africa's nine provinces, from 2009 until 2018, and was known to be influential in the ANC of his home province.
An outspoken ally of former President Jacob Zuma, Magashule has been accused of various corrupt activities.
Ace Magashule was arrested in November 2020 and awaits trial on charges relating to corruption under a government contract awarded while he was Premier.
Ace Magashule was expelled from the ANC in June 2023 after the party's National Disciplinary Committee had found that he had brought the party into disrepute.
Ace Magashule attended Tumahole Primary School and Phehellang Secondary School in his hometown of Tumahole, Parys.
Ace Magashule gained his nickname, "Ace," on the school soccer field.
Ace Magashule received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Fort Hare University, and after graduating taught at Moqhaka High School in Sebokeng and later at Phehellang, his own former school.
Ace Magashule was detained for his UDF activities in 1985.
Ace Magashule went into exile in 1989 and returned in 1991 after the ANC and other anti-apartheid groups were unbanned.
Ace Magashule became the chairperson of the ANC's branch in the Northern Free State.
Ace Magashule was appointed to the Free State Executive Council, where he served as Member of the Executive Council for Economic Affairs between 1994 and 1996.
In mid-1996, Free State Premier Terror Lekota announced a reshuffle in which Ace Magashule was moved to a new and less senior government office as MEC for Transport.
Lekota said that his decision was informed by "rumours about misconduct" in the Department of Economic Affairs and by his belief that Ace Magashule was "better-suited" to the on-the-ground work of the transport portfolio.
Ace Magashule took up his seat in the National Assembly in August 1997 and served there until the 2004 general election.
Ace Magashule remained in that portfolio until Marshoff sacked him in April 2005.
Ace Magashule moved to the Public Safety and Security portfolio in October 2008.
On 6 May 2009, pursuant to that year's general election, Ace Magashule was indirectly elected to succeed Marshoff as Premier of the Free State.
Also while Premier, Ace Magashule retained his party position as ANC Provincial Chairperson, and he ultimately became the ANC's longest-serving Provincial Chairperson.
Ace Magashule had run on the slate of the losing presidential candidate, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and was backed by the Premier League.
The charges relate to a R255-million contract which the Free State Department of Human Settlements awarded to Blackhead Consulting in 2014, while Ace Magashule was Premier, for the auditing and removal of asbestos from homes in the province.
Ace Magashule had been given 30 days to voluntarily "step aside" from his party leadership positions, under the ANC's new step-aside rule.
Ace Magashule refused to accept his suspension and in turn sought to suspend Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC and national President.
On 12 June 2023, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri announced that Ace Magashule had been expelled from the party after he had missed the deadline of seven days to oppose the National Disciplinary Committee's disciplinary findings against him.
Ace Magashule has been the subject of many journalistic investigations alleging his corrupt activities, and has been accused of participating in state capture during the Zuma presidency.
In November 2017 the winner of a tender from the provincial government Ace Magashule headed alleged that Ace Magashule had personally encouraged him to act as a front for the contract.
One of his sons, Tshepiso "Gift" Ace Magashule, was employed as a consultant by the Gupta family since November 2010, shortly after Duduzane Zuma was brought under their influence.
Ace Magashule alleged that Gift's link to the Guptas was no secret.
Ace Magashule denied any involvement, despite a security video of 18 December 2014 which confirmed his exploratory visit to the fuel station, in the company of two FDC board members, and apparently, Malembe.
Ace Magashule is a long-time friend of Hantsi Matseke, chairperson of the FDC.