Conflict between North West Premier Edna Molewa and senior cabinet members over alleged corruption in the provincial government has been highlighted in confidential documents leaked to the Mail & Guardian.
In one, a report written by Molewa to the African National Congress provincial working committee and President Thabo Mbeki, she questions former agriculture minister Ndleleni Duma’s authorisation of a corruption investigation into the North West’s crisis-ridden agriculture department. Molewa has since shifted Duma to the arts and sport porfolio.
She suggests the probe, which led to the arrest of five officials, should not have taken place. And she believes Duma suspects her — as a former head of the agriculture department — of ”wrongdoing”.
In cabinet minutes also leaked to the M&G, Molewa expresses unhappiness that her finance minister, Maureen Modiselle, revealed to Parliament’s agriculture committee that the North West agriculture department had collapsed because of corruption.
According to the minutes Molewa ”reiterated that retraction in the media is needed to correct the state of affairs”.
A provincial executive committee member said Molewa was seen as having abused her prerogative by reshuffling her cabinet without consulting the party. Widespread dissatisfaction with her leadership of the provincial African National Congress could see her ousted at the party’s conference next year.
However, as Molewa enjoys Mbeki’s support, the source said she is unlikely to lose her position as premier. She is also said to have the backing of business leaders in the North West.
The leaked documents show that the provincial agriculture department — and especially her battle with fired departmental head Emily Mogajane — remain a millstone round Molewa’s neck.
In her report to the provincial working committee, Molewa said Duma had asked her to appoint a service provider to audit suspected corruption.
”Any persons who were making such allegations should at least provide some lead or prima facie evidence that should substantiate the allegations,” Molewa said. She had asked Duma to provide more proof.
She was ”amazed” to discover that Duma had requested the investigation without coming back to her.
The police commercial branch had also informed her that it was probing the agriculture department. She had asked the police not to give her details of the investigation, because of a ”belief that Duma suspects me of wrongdoing”.
The premier blames Mogajane for the department’s problems, saying the latter slowed down service delivery with new regulations and fostered conflict between managers and workers. She blames Duma for Mogajane’s conduct.
Asked to comment this week, Molewa said that in any vibrant democracy or organisation there were ongoing discussions and robust debates. Nothing had been personal.
”It must therefore not be read as evidence of factionalism or mistrust within an organisation,” she said. She was satisfied that the cabinet was a united and cohesive team.
On her apparent opposition to the graft probe, Molewa said her ”tough stance against corruption within government is public knowledge … Everyone and anyone must be investigated when there is a case or prima facie evidence …”
But, she added: ”In the same vein, we must not tolerate witch-hunts that are merely intended to ruin one’s reputation in the name of anti-corruption.”
Modiselle and Mogajane declined to comment.