ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Julius Malema does not have the “authority or powers” to dictate deployment of ANC leaders in Limpopo, the provincial ANC said on Tuesday.
“It is simply not true that comrade Malema has a grip or power over the ANC leadership in the province,” provincial spokesperson David Masondo said.
“The ANCYL president comrade Malema has no authority or powers to dictate to the elected leadership pertaining to strategic deployments in the province.
“The deployment of cadres of the ANC and its allies in various strategic sites of power, particularly municipalities, is the prerogative responsibility of the ANC’s deployment committee and its structures.”
The Sowetan newspaper reported on Tuesday that those loyal to Malema and Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale were set to lead municipalities in Limpopo as mayors.
According to the report, Vhembe executive mayor Philemon Mdaka would be replaced by Florence Rumane, a member of the mayoral committee, while Eric Gwangwa of the Waterberg district would be replaced by current Lephalale local municipality mayor Rosina Mogotlane. The pair were “believed” to be Malema’s chief lobbyists in his bid to serve a second term as youth league president.
A list drawn up by the ANC Limpopo provincial executive committee showed that Joshua Matlou, Mogobo Magabe and Lawrence Mapoulo would retain their positions as mayors of the Mopani, Sekhukhune and Capricon districts respectively, and that all three were known to be loyal supporters of both Mathale and Malema, the newspaper reported.
Masondo said the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC) rejected the Sowetan‘s report “with contempt”.
“Such reports are an attempt to blackmail the ANC leadership and are an assault on the collective wisdom and political leadership authority of the PEC in the province. They are further an attack on the person and political integrity of … Mathale.”
The PEC met on Tuesday to discuss the results of the 2011 local election and thanked its members for retaining control of all municipalities in the province.
“This electoral victory is not a blank cheque to our councillors and mayors to do as they wish. Instead, they have the real representatives of the people in line with the ANC values and principles and programs as entailed in the 2011 electoral manifesto.”
The mayors for the five district municipalities are: Capricorn – Lawrence Mapoulo, Mopani – Joshua Matlou, Sekhukhune – David Magabein, Vhembe -Florence Dzhombere and Waterberg – Rosina Mokgotloane.
The mayors for the local municipalities are:
Polokwane – Freddy Greaver
Lepelle-Nkumpi – Veronica Phaahla
Blouberg – Seriti Sekgoloane
Aganang – Maria Mokobodi
Molemole – Paulinah Makgatho
Greater Tzaneen -Dikeledi Mmetle
Greater Giyani – Pat Hlungwani
Greater Letaba – Godfrey City Modjadji
Ba-Phalaborwa – Anna Sono
Maruleng – Pule Mafologelo
Ephraim Mogale – Yvonne Mankola
Makhuduthamaga – Alfred Matlala
Fetakgomo – Kuki Sefala
Tubatse – Mahlake Nkosi
Elias Motsoaledi -Wendy Matemana
Thulamela – Grace Mahosi
Makhado – Mavhungu Luruli
Mutale – Tshitereke Matibe
Musina – Carol Phiri
Mogalakwena – Esther Mothibi
Lephalale – Johanna Mojela
Modimolle – Meisie Lekalakala
Thabazimbi – Patricia Moshito
Mookgopong – Sarah Monyamane. — Sapa