The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Sunday described the re-appointment of Paul Mashatile as Gauteng’s African National Congress (ANC) chairperson as “bad news” for the fight against corruption in the province.
“It reflects badly on the ANC that he is re-elected despite his poor governance record and all the fishy tenders awarded to his network of friends in the so-called ‘Alex Mafia’,” DA spokesperson Jack Bloom said in a statement.
“I expect that there will be some reshuffles in the executive council as Mashatile extends his power,” he said.
Health and social development provincial minister Qedani Mahlangu will probably be booted out as her brave steps to root out corrupt activities have made her many enemies in the ANC.”
Bloom went on to say that Mashatile’s re-election has a negative impact on Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane’s anti-corruption campaign.
“Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane’s campaign against corruption was already losing steam.
“Her ability to act against allies of Mashatile who are implicated in corruption will now be curbed further,” Bloom said.
He said internal fighting within the provincial government will lead to continued poor service delivery and corruption in tender processes.
“The public suffers as the gravy train rolls on for Gauteng ANC politicians and their friends.”
Mashatile made it clear on Saturday that the ANC was the only centre of power in the province.
“Our position is that there is only one centre … the ANC,” he said at a media briefing on the final day of the province’s eleventh elective conference at the Tshwane Events Centre.
“Government is not a centre, government is a place where people are deployed to do ANC work.”
He added that the provincial leadership of the ruling party had to support the government, “because it is our government”.
The government’s responsibility was to implement the decisions and the policies of the ANC.
He warned that if this did not happen “there will be consequences”.
Meanwhile, the Young Communist League (YCL) congratulated Mashatile on his re-appointment, saying that they would continue to work together with all members of the provincial government.
“We will as part of the SA Communist Party, continue to work together in the revolutionary alliance with the ANC and look forward to programmatic working relations with the newly elected leadership,” the league said in a statement.
“We will equally continue to work together with the Gauteng provincial government as led by Comrade Nomvula Mokonyane as the premier, to do more in line with the Alliance’s 2009 elections manifesto, the conference mandate and the alliance summits declarations.”