"Just be patient. I’m floating today like a butterfly. Leave the processes and be patient. I've always supported president Jacob Zuma."

This was the response of suspended African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Ace Magashule who continued to express his reluctance to apologise to ANC leadership for his public actions.

On Tuesday, Magashule came to the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal to support former president Zuma, who's facing charges of corruption, racketeering and money laundering.

The ANC's national working committee (NWC) on Monday condemned Magashule's behaviour - and national executive members, Tony Yengeni and Carl Niehaus - after they addressed ANC supporters when Zuma last appeared in court.

The NWC said it had instructed "the national presenter" to look into the "the breaches of discipline and to investigate charges" in line with the ANC constitution's code of conduct. Making his way into court, Magashule declined to speak on the issue. Instead, he said patience should be exercised as the ANC processes unfolded.

He was also hesitant to respond to the newly appointed interim provincial task team in the Free State.

“Just leave the process to happen,” Magashule said

On Tuesday, ANC deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte announced that 40 people would be part of an interim leadership following a court interdict that invalidated the provincial conference held in 2018.

She said that Mxolisi Dukwana, a former economic development MEC in the province and a close ally of President Cyril Ramaphosa, would spearhead the provincial task team.

ANC heavyweights

Magashule wasn’t the only senior ANC member who came to support Zuma. Other disgruntled senior ANC members like the former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo were there.

Gumede, who's since stepped aside, refused to comment on the matter as she made her way into court.

"I'm here to support Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma," she said.

Her trial is set to resume on 14 June. She and her 21 co-accused face 2 786 charges collectively.

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala and ANC provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli were also present, despite being booed previously when trying to address Zuma supporters.

Zikalala said they were not deterred from showing support as the provincial leadership of the ANC, despite unexpected pushback from ANC supporters.

"What is primary is that we are here to give support to the former president, Jacob Zuma. As to what other people are saying, it doesn't matter because the primary intention is to give the former president the support. Booing is not an issue that can stop us or which can make us angry against particular individuals we’ve been subjected to booing in different platforms and eventually we'll engage with those people and find each other. So we not here about booing. We're here to support the former president," he said.