In the hornets’ nest

Friday’s converging on the Premier’s Office by a contingent of Hawks coincides with the droning in the hornet’s nest that spells reported rising discontent about African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Chairperson Stan Mathabatha’s leadership and approach to organisational matters.
It is apparently raining down on the Premier from all directions as a host of concerns – the biggest being the VBS Mutual Bank saga – is being aired by structures affiliated to the organisation and supporters of his party seemingly closing ranks against him. It includes the decision that led to what is being seen as a hasty announcement of a new Provincial Cabinet two Wednesdays ago.
A week later Mathabatha was already up against structures of alliance partner South African Communist Party (SACP) for seemingly side-lining them in the decision that excluded their preferences. Both the provincial executive and that of the Castro Pilusa District raised dissatisfaction with the announcement in statements released the past week.
In a follow-up interview SACP Castro Pilusa District Secretary Dan Mosena accused Mathabatha of side-lining the alliance in his decision over a Provincial Cabinet, adding that he had taken the structure by surprise with his announcement as he did it without consultation. He added that it was their wish that he be removed from his position as party provincial chairperson and leader of the alliance in Limpopo, as he did not take the alliance partners seriously. He labelled Mathabatha’s conduct a Communist-bashing strategy.
At the same time the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) in Limpopo has noted its dismay with the onslaught against its shop stewards in the Premier’s Office immediately after Friday’s visit by the Hawks, “characterised by spurious allegations against them” as referred to in a statement issued by Nehawu Provincial Secretary Jacob Adams on Tuesday.
He insisted that government immediately call off their “hunting dogs” from pursuing their shop stewards and focus on resolving demands of workers in Limpopo. He further continued saying Mathabatha had to concentrate on solving problems raised by the union and demanded that Director-General Nape Nchabeleng be fired for alleged irregular expenditure confirmed by the Auditor-General. “Government must allow credible investigations by the Hawks to continue unabated without interference,” Adams concluded.
Earlier this year Polokwane Observer reported on Nehawu’s branch attached to the Premier’s Office wanting to see Nchabeleng’s head roll over alleged irregular expenditure. They then embarked on lunchtime pickets in the run-up to the elections, when the ruling party leadership in the province reportedly would have wanted to divert any attention to discord ventilated by communities over service delivery-related issues away from the party and government.
At the time of going to press Premier’s spokesperson Kenny Mathivha said that a formal enquiry had been put to a shop steward of the union on Monday for him to answer to allegations in relation to procurement.
Outside the Office of the Premier on Friday around lunchtime Mathivha informed Polokwane Observer that some Hawks officials were still in the building continuing with their work at the time, after an estimated 20 officials arrived earlier that morning as part of an investigation into international travel-related procurement. In a statement issued afterwards he referred to Mathabatha welcoming the investigation, adding that the Office of the Premier would fully cooperate with them.
In the meantime Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader Jacques Smalle issued a media release on Monday stating that the party has addressed correspondence to Mathabatha for him to publish a detailed report pertaining to all international trips his office undertook, including Members of the Executive Council (MECs).
“As the accounting officer, Premier Mathabatha cannot distance himself from any maladministration or exorbitant costs,” stated Smalle. He further expressed DA opinion that the raid compromised the image of the entire office due to Mathabatha’s lack of leadership and unwillingness to take action against alleged corrupt officials and politicians implicated in various scandals such as VBS Mutual Bank, tender irregularities, irregular and wasteful expenditure, financial mismanagement and corruption in various municipalities and departments.
When Polokwane Observer approached Hawks national spokesperson Hangwani Mulaudzi for the latest developments in the matter on Tuesday, he responded with a one-liner stating “Nothing new”.
From sources within the organisation it was learnt that ruling party members meeting behind closed doors were already mobilising branches across the province for a Special General Council to have Mathabatha replaced. The notion to have the party’s provincial chairperson removed was picking up groundswell, a source indicated.
ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) spokesperson Donald Selamolela commented saying they dismissed such reported plans with the contempt it deserved, adding that there should be no dark force thinking they could just simply remove Mathabatha. Selamolela said Mathabatha had been nominated for and elected into the position during a conference of the ANC and his election was endorsed. “It’s just unthinkable,” he concluded saying.

Story & photo: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com