Players: ANC provincial chair Stan Mathabatha (far left) is relying on support from Florence Radzilani (second left). Mathabatha’s ally, Danny Msiza (far right), will not will not be contesting because he had to abide by the step-aside ruling. Photo: Antoio Muchave/ Sowetan/Gallo Images
The ANC in Limpopo is expected to make its intentions clear on provincial leadership when members congregate in Polokwane for this weekend’s conference.
Stan Mathabatha, who has been the provincial chairperson and premier for two terms, is up against Dickson Masemola, a member of Mathabatha’s provincial cabinet.
Although the two have differed on the direction of leadership in Limpopo, allies of both have stated that they will probably endorse Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the ANC, much like Eastern Cape chair Oscar Mabuyane and Mpumalanga chair Mandla Ndlovu in did at their respective conferences.
This, even though the exclusion of Mathabatha’s ally and provincial heavyweight, outgoing provincial treasurer Danny Msiza, was a blow to his slate.
Msiza had to recuse himself from the provincial contest when the national executive committee (NEC) decided that all those who had stepped aside should not be allowed to stand for election.
Those in Msiza’s inner circle have accused the Ramaphosa faction in the NEC of having targeted him — given the timing of the decision — it is unclear whether the kingmaker will change his alliance.
Someone who might be circling Msiza in the hope of bolstering his own December ambitions is disgraced former health minister Zweli Mkhize. Mkhize is said to have an affiliation with the Limpopo treasurer because they worked together when he was the ANC’s treasurer-general.
One Limpopo insider, who is aligned with Msiza, said the NEC’s decision could spur full-blown support for Mkhize.
Msiza has maintained support for Ramaphosa for a second term but a source in his inner circle said the amended step-aside rule had the potential to tilt the scales the way of Mkhize.
“I hope when they were doing it, they also calculated. It’s clear that this decision is directed at us. It’s like you keep courting a girl but she tells you she doesn’t want you, you are not her type, this means that you must look for another girl,” the Limpopo insider said.
“This is not just in politics, it’s in all facets of life. We all must lie on the bed we prepare for ourselves. If necessary, we will fold our arms and let the branches decide. This is the worst thing they could have done. They have committed suicide because Limpopo is slipping through their fingers.”
Another former Mkhize ally, who is said to be feeling a pinch of rejection from the Ramaphosa faction, is the Eastern Cape’s Babalo Madikizela. Although he lost to Mabuyane, Madikizela still has the support of some regions in his province, which could make Ramaphosa uncomfortable at the December conference.
Mathabatha is alleged to be enjoying support from most of Limpopo’s five regions. He is also depending on Florence Radzilani from the Vhembe region, the second most powerful region in Limpopo.
The Vhembe region will support Mathabatha in the hope that Radzilani will ascend to the post of chair should the province be successful in lobbying for Mathabatha’s election as the ANC’s national chairperson in December.
Mathabatha’s biggest headache will be the Norman Mashabane region, the largest region in the province. It will probably support Masemola with the help of his ally and the regional chair, Pule Shai.
Mathabatha’s competition also has outgoing provincial chair Soviet Lakganyane as part of its slate.
The Masemola slate, considered to be the anti-corruption slate, is said to have close ties with those linked to Ramaphosa.
Those aligned with Masemola are of the view that Mathabatha has outstayed his welcome and cannot be allowed to lead the province for a third term.
Under Mathabatha, the province was embroiled in one of the biggest scandals to hit the ANC, involving VBS Mutual Bank, with some provincial executive committee members implicated in its looting.
About 14 municipalities — in Limpopo, North West and Gauteng — lost nearly R1.6-billion after illegally investing in the bank.
Speaking to the Mail & Guardian, Masemola said it would be a travesty if Mathabatha returned for a third term, because this would create a precedent and an understanding that the province is unable to produce future leaders.
He was referring to the watershed Polokwane conference in 2007, when Thabo Mbeki, who had ambitions to lead the party for a third term, was ousted.
“It may even change the character of our national politics in future; we may have a president who does not want to leave because this matter [of a third term] will have built over time from different corners of the country. So we have to, as the people of Limpopo in the ANC branches in this province, live up to what the 2007 national conference pronounced that that term is not a good phenomenon for the movement.
“As I say, it will be an accident of history that in the same province where this matter was attended to, we ourselves agreed to something like that.”
Masemola argued that his experience, together with those in his slate, would be able to make a contribution towards the renewal of the ANC.
He said the renewal project of the party requires a particular character of leadership that will ensure its longevity and durability given the contemporary political developments that characterise the country, provinces and local areas.
Masemola said Mathabatha had led the province well but he would not comment on whether he would support the outgoing chairperson in his ambition of making it to the top six in December.
“I can’t when we want to renew the movement we go towards the conference running processes, which then negate the very same intentions of renewal, which means we must also teach members of the ANC that even as we go to conferences comrades are contesting. It is about deepening democracy in the movement and not about the acrimony, insults and just, you know, bringing a wrong culture which tomorrow we will regret. You cannot easily undo what would have taught people to do when you say you represent renewal going forward.
“So, as I say, as I conclude he has done his work, we supported him fully without any problem. We believe that now it’s time for change, because this phenomenon is totally un-ANC and therefore, you will not find expression going forward, but the other point will deal with this other thing at another time.”
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