Powerful politicians have embarked on a two-pronged strategy to influence the ANC’s selection of the Gauteng premier candidate, writes Wally Mbhele
As Gauteng Premier Mathole Motshekga’s tight grip on his post begins to falter, it appears that his political opponents are winning a battle to remove him from the most powerful provincial office in the country
With African National Congress president Thabo Mbeki expected to make pronouncements on premier candidates in the next three weeks, the battle to win the hearts and minds of Gauteng ANC branches and regions has begun.
The Mail & Guardian has learned that powerful provincial political figures have already embarked on a comprehensive two-pronged strategy to influence the ANC’s deployment committee on its selection for the premier candidate, while at the same time encouraging debates among branches and regions on who is suitable to step into Motshekga’s shoes.
Sources within Mbeki’s office say it is highly unlikely that Motshekga – who had Mbeki’s support when he was elected premier in 1997 – would be re-appointed to lead the richest province in the country into the next millennium.
It is understood that the ANC’s deployment committee is already considering candidates they believe are qualified to take over from Motshekga.
However, sources close to Motshekga say the premier – relying on the massive branch support that brought him to power – is confident that he will retain his position and he appears to be unaware that knives are already out for him.
Motshekga’s loss of popular support, according to sources, stems from a series of scandals that accompanied appointments he has made as Gauteng premier, and particularly allegations which linked him to perceived enemies of the ANC during the era of the anti-apartheid struggle.
Motshekga was cleared of any wrongdoing by an ANC commission of inquiry last year into allegations of corruption involving the misuse of donor funds channelled into his National Institute for Public Interest Law and Research.
Yet, it is believed that the National Intelligence Agency continued its investigations into his previous links with controversial personalities such as Unisa Professor Andr Thomashausen – a former Renamo adviser.
Motshekga is also blamed for failing to maintain unity after his election, particularly by appointing people who supported him during the premiership race in key government positions.
An example is MEC for Health Mondli Ngungubele, while one of his staunch supporters, Dan Mofokeng, is said to have enjoyed exclusive benefit of acting as premier while Motshekga was away on business.
“Initially, Mbeki was very confident of Motshekga’s capabilities, but some of the premier’s public utterances have embarrassed the ANC and this led to the deputy president losing confidence in the premier,” said a source close to Mbeki’s office.
As uncertainty hangs over their heads, Motshekga and six other ANC premiers held a meeting last week in Gauteng, where it is believed various matters pertaining to elections and their future was discussed.
The discussions took place last Wednesday before an official meeting the next day of the premiers’ forum – a body consisting of all nine provincial premiers who occasionally meet to discuss matters of mutual interest as provincial governors.
One of the premiers said: “Mathole is too trusting, he is too naive – he thinks that all is well. The knives are definitely out for him.”
Sources at the ANC’s Johannesburg headquarters were adamant this week that no one has been approached to take over the Gauteng premiership, but there was strong lobbying, especially in Gauteng province leadership, that Motshekga should quit his position.
“What I know as a fact is that Motshekga knows he is not coming back. I know of one of his MECs who is tipped to take over, but he is reluctant,” a source close to Mbeki’s office said.
Among the names that have been punted to take over from Motshekga are the current Gauteng MEC for Safety and Security, Paul Mashatile, the director general in Mbeki’s office, Frank Chikane, the outgoing Congress of South African Trade Unions general secretary, Mbhazima Shilowa, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Baleka Mbete-Kgositsile, and black business magnate Cyril Ramaphosa.
The chair of the Finance and Fiscal Commission, Murphy Morobe, whose name has also been suggested as a possible contender, said although he has not been approached, he was aware of these discussions.
“The bottom line is that there is only one person who knows and he is keeping his cards close to his chest. Thabo [Mbeki] is not going to discuss it with anyone,” said an ANC elections official.
However, sources close to the process say talk about both Shilowa and Mbete- Kgositsile is a mere red herring as Shilowa is the only person deployed to campaign for the ANC among workers in Gauteng, while Mbete-Kgositsile is believed to have for some time now been punting herself as a possible future Gauteng premier.
ANC representative Thabo Masebe said people would always express different views based on their own opinion about who should be approached to be premier. He said Mbeki can consult with any ANC structure and individuals thought to be fit for the job.
“He has been consulting already with a number of people about what he thinks and what they have to offer in terms of opinion,” Masebe said.
Motshekga’s position is made much more difficult by the fact that while opposition from within his own Gauteng cabinet appears to have intensified, he has also lost support from his own staff members.
Since he took office, he has lost many talented staffers who could have provided a political support system. Almost all his political advisers have left, and at least one of them was forced to leave under pressure from Motshekga’s own comrades in the province.
There is talk of yet another looming clash with his present special adviser, Eddy Maloka, whose contract Motshekga is said to be not keen to renew. The contract runs out at the end of this month. The dispute between Motshekga and Maloka is apparently being handled internally at the moment.
Said a source close to Motshekga: “Mathole is a popular premier, but the province itself is divided. There is no way branches are going to accept someone who does not enjoy popular support as premier. There are many camps in Gauteng, so if you appoint from one camp, the other camp will start fighting.”