Jaspreet Kindra
At least three members of the provincial executive in Mpumalanga will lose their positions, as recommended by an African National Congress tribunal held in the province in March.
ANC national chair Mosiuoa Lekota confirmed the move this week. He said the report, submitted two weeks ago, also recommended the deployment of members from provincial ANC structures to the national structures.
Some members of the national assembly, from Mpumalanga are also likely to be deployed to the province.
The move is seen as an attempt to stabilise and clean up the ANC’s Mpumlanga executive committee which has been plagued by faction fighting and charges of corruption levelled against many members.
The ANC’s national working committee has dissolved three provincial executives within a year. Sources in the party said it was felt that a reshuffling and redeployment of members from Mpumulanga would be “more constructive” than dissolving the provincial executive committee.
The three MECs that sources say are likely to be axed are public works, roads, transport, safety and security MEC Steve Mabona, social services, population and development MEC Busi Coleman and local government and traffic MEC Jonathon Tolo. All three have been associated with allegations of corruption.
Coleman is alleged to have have flouted tender regulations in awarding a contract to a company in which her husband, Teddy Coleman, is alleged to have an interest.
Sources in the province said Mabona is viewed as the “controlling force” behind Premier Ndaweni Mahlangu, who is widely regarded to have “floundered” in his position.
Asked to comment, spokespersons of two of the MECs referred the matter to Mahlangu’s office. Mahlangu’s spokesperson Peter Shube, claiming that he was not aware of the recommendation, said: “We don’t respond to such speculation. Normally if the premier makes a decision to drop ministers he goes ahead and does it. We don’t comment on it.”
Other people in the province who might be deployed include ANC Women’s League leader Thoko Mabena, the wife of acting finance MEC Jacob Mabena; former ANC provincial representative and former MEC for public works Jackson Mthembu and former finance MEC Lassy Chiwayo.
Mthembu, identified as a member of the Matthews Phosa faction in the province, has lashed out at those trying to “pigeon-hole ANC members as so-and-so’s man”.
A disgusted Mthembu, who until he quit last month was the party’s provincial representative for more than a decade, said: “I am an independent member of the ANC. I am sick and tired of being pigeon-holed.
“I have kicked myself out of the party’s provincial executive and I feel everyone else should kick themselves out as well. I am proud of the ANC. We don’t deserve any leaders who are identified as this camp or that camp. We need to make way for fresh new blood. We have good young leaders in the regions we must allow them to take our place.”
Mthembu, who served as MEC for Public Works, Road and Transport during Phosa’s tenure as premier in Mpumalanga, also spoke out in defence of Chiwayo, another ANC member identified as a Phosa ally.
Mthembu and Chiwayo are being punted as in the running for the top five positions in elections for ANC Mpumulanga office bearers to be held in June and July.
“I have told the national leadership that I am not available for any of the top five positions. I did not join the party for any positions. I joined the party when I was 15 years old. I am now 43. I grew up in the party as an activist. I am an activist. I want my mother, my wife and my children to be proud of what I am,” Mthembu said.
“I am so sick and tired of all this talk. You can ask anyone I have fought both Phosa and Mahlangu. When they have been wrong I have told them so.”
Some ANC sources in Mpumalanga blame members of the party’s national executive committee for sowing divisions.
A clearer picture of the fate of Mpumalanga’s provincial executive is likely to emerge when the ANC’s national executive meets this weekend. It is expected to announce the dates of provincial conferences, where new provincial leaderships will be elected.