Thumbs up for Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha.
The ANC Youth League in Limpopo is baying for Premier Stan Mathabatha’s head, but the SA Communist Party and Umkhonthowe Sizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA) say Mathabatha deserves a second term.
Limpopo will hold its elective conference early next year, but the youth league has already launched an aggressive campaign to have Mathabatha dethroned.
The league accuses Mathabatha of being selfish and self-centred and of not having the interests of all young people in the province at heart.
League provincial secretary Che Selane said: “He does not deploy youth in strategic positions of government, his provincial departments always perform dismally in the books of the auditor-general and under his watch, Limpopo has always performed ridiculously in the matric pass rate as compared to other provinces.
“As if that is not enough, he is sitting idle on his laurels when schools in the province have no books.
“What kind of a leader is he? His presence as premier and party provincial chairperson is tantamount to a drop in the ocean.
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“Mathabatha must just pack his bags and leave Mowaneng House of The Premier in peace before he leaves it in pieces.”
But MKMVA member Kgoshi Mohlamme Mathebe hit back.
“Mathabatha is the saviour who redeemed the province from the brink of collapse,” he said.
“He resurrected Limpopo when it was about to become a banana republic.
“He has united the ANC and the tripartite alliance with precision and distinction but because we forget easily like chickens, we now bow to some ill-informed ‘Jim Comes to Joburg’ who would do anything to tarnish the gorgeous image of our premier.
“If I were you, I would not listen to those who were hiding under the tables when Mathabatha and his camarilla fought tooth and nail for the liberation that we enjoy today.”
On Monday, the SACP called on those who want Mathabatha’s head to roll to reconsider.
SACP provincial spokesperson Machike Thobejane told the media that it was wrong to attack Mathabatha simply because he was perceived to be supporting a particular course that differed with theirs.
Mathabatha distanced himself from the youth league saying: “I was not aware of the league’s attack and I am not prepared to talk about it,” he said.
Political analyst Elvis Masoga said Mathabatha’s performance since the province was put under administration spoke for itself.
“I think under Mathabatha’s tutelage, Limpopo is marching to greener pastures and corruption and maladministration will soon be a thing of the past.”
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