Publications
Partners
The ANC national conference nomination process, which is expected to be completed within the next two weeks, has intensified internal fighting within the ANC.
Two ANC officials in Limpopo – ANC provincial secretary Nocks Seabi and deputy provincial secretary Makoma Makhurupetje – who are staunch supporters of presidential hopeful Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, find themselves in a challenging political space after criminal cases were opened against them in Polokwane.
The two are allies who are contesting the provincial leadership positions. These elections will be held next year after the ruling party’s national conference.
Makhurupetje – who was recently demoted by Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha from MEC for cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs to transport and community safety MEC – will challenge Mathabatha for the provincial chairperson position of the ANC.
Seabi will go up against an ally of Mathabatha – a provincial executive committee member, Thabo Mokone – for the provincial secretary position.
In light of the developments Seabi – who is a strong backer of President Jacob Zuma – has been accused by a comrade, Alpheus Thulare of Ward 9 in Lephalale, of tampering with the attendance register that was used to verify the legitimacy of the branch general meeting.
This branch falls under the troubled ANC Waterberg region. Its regional conference has been postponed more than three times because of internal squabbles.
The conduct of ANC members in the area has been condemned by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe.
When pressed for comment, Thulare confirmed to City Press that he had opened a case of fraud at Polokwane Police Station.
“I can confirm as a branch chairperson that a case of fraud has been opened in Polokwane against the provincial secretary Seabi because our attendance register, which was used to verify the legitimacy of the branch, was tampered with. Seabi is the sole custodian of the secretary office in Limpopo, therefore he must shed light on this,’’ Thulare said.
Makhurupetje is also facing a case of fraud after the EFF’s Jossey Buthane opened a case at Polokwane Police Station following allegations of corruption over the purchasing of a piece of land in Tubatse at Burgersfort in Limpopo.
Makhurupetje has hit back at the EFF, saying that they were being used by “some desperate ANC members’’ because she was “the chief lobbyist of Dlamini-Zuma’’ in Limpopo.
“I have dealt with that matter and the head of the department is disciplining the officials involved. This matter has also being reported to the Hawks by the department. I’m no longer the MEC of the [cooperative governance] department but I can confirm that it’s being handled accordingly,’’ Makhurupetje said.
The former cooperative governance MEC told City Press that the outcome of the Auditor-General’s findings on the Tubatse land purchase, where an amount of R108 million was regarded as wasteful and irregular expenditure by the department, was regrettable.
She said the Auditor-General found that there was no value for money on the purchase and there was a prima facie case against senior officials in the human settlements branch.
Makhurupetje said: “The department finds the irregularities unacceptable and takes them seriously. Due to the urgency of the matter the MEC has referred the matter to the Hawks for a forensic investigation with immediate effect.
“Second, the department is in a process to institute disciplinary action against the senior officials who are responsible with immediate effect.’’
Seabi said he hadn’t been approached by the police but heard about the case in the media.
He confirmed that the Waterberg regional conference could take place before the end of November.
Seabi called on his ANC comrades to refrain from plotting against each other, and asked them to unite and desist from factionalism and political point-scoring.
He admitted that it was difficult to convene three regional conferences because of the divisions within the party.
Sekhukhune was won by Dlamini-Zuma, Vhembe was taken by Ramaphosa and Mopani was scooped by Dlamini-Zuma.
The Capricorn region, known as Peter Mokaba, will only hold its conference next year, after the ANC national elective conference, Seabi confirmed.
Meanwhile, a list seen by City Press from both camps has touted and nominated high-profile politicians in Limpopo to become national executive committee members.
The lists include the likes of former ambassador to Cuba Justice Pitso, Transport Minister Joe Maswanganyi, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, ANC deputy provincial chairperson Jerry Ndou, ANC provincial spokesperson Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Rudolph Phala, Maite Marutha, Seaparo Skwati, former Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale, former public service minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi, former ANC Limpopo provincial chairperson Pule Mabe, former ANC MP Rosina Semenya, ANC Youth League national executive committee member Thembi Siweya and ANC MP Pinky Kekana.
Minster Nkoana-Mashabane, who was plugged by the Dlamini-Zuma faction to be its treasurer-general, said: “I’ll always accept any mandate of the ANC. I’m privileged that, after former President Sefako Makgatho, a person from Limpopo will be part of the ANC national executive. I also have full confidence that comrade Nkosazana Dlaimini-Zuma is equal to the task to become the first female president of the ANC and the country. She did extremely well when she was deployed in various positions as a minister, including recently as the African Union Commission chairperson.”
Ntshavheni dismissed reports that she was a supporter of the Dlaimini-Zuma provincial slate, which has her down as the provincial treasurer, despite the fact that she is a Ramaphosa lobbyist.
She said she also supported Limpopo premier and ANC provincial chairperson Mathabatha.
“The current chairperson in Limpopo must be supported and this is a consensus that I’ll collectively work towards for. I personally believe that the 54th national conference must elect a leadership collective led by the current Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. We must elect leaders who are fit and have a capacity to pass through the eye of the needle.
“I can also confirm that the branches are nominating me to become an NEC member … I’ll accept and will pass through the eye of the needle,’’ she added.
Ntshavheni said the list mentioned above would ensure that there was unity within the ANC in both the province and nationally because it consisted of consummate leaders.
ANC Youth League provincial secretary Davi “Che” Selane said Mathabatha was not a consummate leader but a factionalist who was divisive to the ANC.
He said he should be recalled for his misfortunes, including a recent cabinet reshuffle where he demoted Zuma’s allies.
ANC Youth League NEC member Thembi Siweya defended Mathabatha and Ramaphosa.
“They are both credible leaders who are following through the eye of the needle. The collective leadership of Comrade Ramaphosa will revitalise the ANC and restore its values that will change lives of the people in this country.’’
