MBOMBELA – All four regions of Mpumalanga have stood behind their chairperson, Mr David Mabuza.

This was after allegations were levelled against him by former premier and former ANC national treasurer, Dr Mathews Phosa, and the provincial South African Communist Party (SACP), that he was an apartheid spy.

Ehlanzeni district led by Mr Ngrayi Ngwenya, Nkangala led by Mr Speedy Mashilo, Gert Sibande by Mr Vusi Shongwe and Bohlabela led by Mr Gillion Mashego, said in a statement issued at a joint press conference,

“In the light of these media reports, beyond the shadow of a doubt, this was nothing but old palace-manoeuvred political lies meant at nothing but damaging the character, image and integrity of the person of Cde DD Mabuza and the ANC in Mpumalanga.

“We view these allegations and their broader political posture in a very serious light, thus we collectively took the decision today to jointly address citizens of Mpumalanga who love our premier and the ANC.

Our chairperson from 2008 has not been enjoying his terms in office both in the ANC and government, due to continuous funded disruptions, accusations and manufactured lies about him and those around him.

“There’s been continuous faceless funding of any grouping within the ANC in the province which opposes the leadership collective led by Mabuza.

We further note the thinly veiled attack by the SACP in the province through their press release on November 25.

They have speedily believed these allegations in order to legitimise their old fabrications and accusations against the chairperson.

“We warn the SACP to desist from being used by people who are disgruntled and on’t care about the future of the movement. However, we would not be shocked if the SACP through their provincial secretary, Bonakele Majuba, was part of this broader attempt to disrupt unity in the province as they’ve failed to do for a great deal of time, hence they’ve on several occasions found themselves chasing shadows.

“We also view this development as the culmination of false unity among the disgruntled, self-hating, aggrieved and arrogant clique that is anti-Mabuza that abuses structure of our mass democratic movement to advance their late-night palace politics.”

They said, however, that they had lost respect for Phosa, whom they alleged to have been behind the allegations.

They asked questions like: how does he lie about another comrade like this? Who stands to benefit and why? They also believe the processes of the court will provide answers as and when they unfold.

“We want to inform people of Mpumalanga and the country, unambiguously and unilaterally, that we will support Cde DD Mabuza for a third term as provincial chairperson of the ANC.

We will soon reaffirm this view at our provincial general council sitting. Anyone who wants to attack DD Mabuza will have to start with us. We will not dare to fail the people of Mpumalanga,” they concluded.