FORMER Mpumalanga premier Mathews Phosa has withdrawn a R1-million civil defamation suit against his successor Ndaweni Mahlangu at the urging of senior African National Congress leaders. The two antagonists confirmed they buried the hatchet in a joint statement on Tuesday after a weekend meeting chaired by ANC secretary general Kgalema Motlanthe. Phosa lodged the defamation suit after Mahlangu implicated him in corruption and mismanagement during his inaugural speech as premier after the June 2 elections. Mahlangu also told journalists Phosa had insight into the R1,3-billion promissory note scandal and should be held responsible. The dispute further divided already fractured ANC ranks in Mpumalanga, which were only beginning to recover from bitter internal faction fighting that cost Phosa his position as provincial ANC chairman and premier.