/ 20 July 2008

Mathale elected as new ANC Limpopo chairperson

Former African National Congress (ANC) provincial secretary Cassel Mathale was elected the party’s new Limpopo chairperson on Saturday at the ANC elective conference at the University of Venda.

Cassel, who was contesting against Premier Sello Moloto, garnered 587 votes as opposed to Moloto’s 357 votes.

Dickson Namane Masemola was elected to the position of deputy chairperson, defeating his rival, Motalane Monakedi, by 238 votes.

Other new top five office-bearers included Joe Maswanganyi as secretary, Pinky Kekana as deputy secretary and Dipuo Letsatsi as treasurer.

The build-up to the conference and nomination process was characterised by violent acts. The violent clashes, which claimed two lives, resulted in the disruption of meetings and the arrest of several ANC members.

On Sunday, delegates in Limpopo will elect the party’s provincial executive members.

The conference, which began on Wednesday and is due to end on Sunday, saw 45 branches disqualified after it was found that they did not hold proper meetings during the build-up to the conference. — Sapa