Unwarranted shuffling: ANC Limpopo cracks whip
District municipalities in the province have embarked on reshuffling mayoral committees without prior consultation.
LIMPOPO -The ANC in the province is about to crack the whip as more and more district municipalities embark on the reshuffling of members of the Mayoral Committees without first consulting the party’s provincial executive committee (PEC).
The party’s Provincial Secretary, Soviet Lekganyane says he was insulted by regional leaders and municipal bosses when he asked them to reverse the decisions.
Lekganyane, who branded the reshuffling as contentious and divisive, told Capricorn Voice that the ANC “was a broad church” and that the party was about to crack the whip on those who defied its policy protocol in order to please their own political juntas.
Limpopo has five regions: Peter Mokaba, Vhembe, Waterberg, Mopani and Sekhukhune. The move to reshuffle councillors started last month by Limpopo Premier and ANC Provincial Chairperson, Stan Mathabatha when he dismissed Public Works MEC, Monicca Mochadi.
A few weeks later, the Vhembe District Municipality, together with the Capricorn district, followed suit.
The reshuffling followed right on the heels of the Waterberg District Municipality last year, which also embarked on a reshuffling that caused huge political discord within the party in the province.
According to an independent political analyst, Elvis Masoga, in terms of the ANC Constitution and policy protocols, before any lower leadership structures can take a major decision, it must first consult with the higher leadership structures. Masoga said the consultative principle applies to the modus operandi of all leadership structures of the ANC.
“The ANC’s appointment and reshuffling of deployed cadres in government structures has always been implemented in the ruling party since the dawn of democracy in 1994. The most instrumental and defining cornerstone is that any reshuffling of deployees must meet the requirements of proper consultation with a relevant senior leadership structure,” said Masoga during an interview last Tuesday.
He proceeded: “ANC Limpopo Provincial Chairperson, Chupu Mathabatha’s humble demeanour and consultative leadership style has created a fertile ground for plurality of views and diversity of opinions within the ruling party in the province. But constructive factionalism should never be associated with counterproductive toxic factionalism. The only crippling danger that engulfs the ANC is toxic factionalism that manifests itself in the form of chronic ill-discipline, crass materialism, utter disrespect towards senior leadership structures, corruption, self-enrichment tendencies and populism,” he said.
A PEC member who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal said the ANC in the province was divided through factional battles. He said the party has been divided since the road to Nasrec where President Cyril Ramaphosa triumphed over former African Union Commission leader, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
“Matters came to a head when the national leadership of the ANC suspended deputy party leader, Florence Radzilani and treasurer, Danny Msiza for reportedly having benefitted from the now defunct, Venda Business Society (VBS). Now, the wounded slate, which lost at Nasrec is regrouping itself ahead of three regional elective conferences earmarked to take place late this year.”
The ANC in the province announced early this year that three regions, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Mopani will this year hold their respective elective conferences. The conferences have since been put on hold amid the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown.Lekganyane said the province will announce a new date for the conferences once they get the green light from the national leadership of the ANC.
