Ivor Powell In a bid to end ongoing divisions in the Mpumalanga provincial government, President Thabo Mbeki is expected to axe the province’s controversial Premier, Ndaweni Mahlangu, next week – and replace him with Deputy Minister of Edu- cation Smangaliso Mkhatshwa. Mkhatshwa was originally tipped for the premiership, when Mbeki unexpectedly announced the appointment of Mahlangu in the middle of last year – against the recommendations of the African National Congress’s deployment committee. Mkhatshwa, who comes from Mpumalanga, has a reputation for restraint and for being something of a peacemaker in ANC circles. His private secretary, William Baloyi, said Mkhatshwa had not been approached regarding redeployment.
Mahlangu, who has been a source of frequent embarrassment to the ANC since his appointment to the premiership, has been on “sick leave” since a check-up at the Pretoria heart hospital last Friday. Though scheduled to be back at work next week, sources close to the legislature said it is likely that Mahlangu’s convalescence will be extended. “Basically he is being kept out of mischief,” one source said. “There is a strong expectation here that he is going to be replaced before the end of the month.” It is understood that the “check-up” that led to his being booked off sick came on the same day that he was scheduled to meet with Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel to explain financial mismanagement in the Mpumalanga government. Mahlangu failed to attend the meeting on the grounds of ill- health.
Alleged corruption among the province’s top ANC leadership is the subject of investigations by the National Directorate of Public Prose-cutions. It is understood Mahlangu could be implicated in the probe, which is concentrating on MEC of Public Works Steve Mabona – seen as the power behind Mahlangu’s throne – and former premier Mathews Phosa. Scorpions representative Sipho Ngwema would not confirm or deny the investigations. Phosa was fingered this month by the auditor general for alleged irregular pay- outs to his former adviser, Pieter Rootman. Mahlangu first came to the media’s attention shortly after his appointment when he said it was an acceptable and widespread practice for politicians to lie. Subsequently he reinstated in his regime several MECs, including Mabona, who had either been investigated for or found guilty of corruption. Meanwhile, senior government sources confirmed rumours that Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry Ronnie Kasrils was strongly tipped to take over the intelligence portfolio from the ailing Joe Nhlanhla.
Nhlanhla suffered a stroke earlier this month and has reportedly lost the use of one arm. Kasrils’s representative said the minister had no information to suggest that he was about to be moved to the intelligence portfolio.