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Mpho Dube

Marula Festival rocked by deceitful scandal and Mathabatha's troops faces court

Updated: Apr 24

Outgoing Limpopo premier Stan Chupu Mathabatha under the microscope


Outbound Limpopo premier Stan Chupu Mathabatha's administration is tormented by another scandal as the rot becomes deeper with only few days left before the provincial and national elections.

The Azanian can confirm that the department of economic development, environment and tourism in Limpopo (LEDET) led by MEC Rodgers Monama, provincial treasury department marshalled by MEC Seaparo Sekoati are facing the music after been taken to Polokwane High Court.

Mathabatha’s troops have been fingered for not adhering to the bid evaluation committee (BEC) wishes led by its secretary Makhubele VM which recommended the accounting officer to appoint the company MT World (Pty) Ltd owned businessman Lucky Tshilimandila as the preferred bidder which is equal to the task of organising Limpopo Marula Festival for three years at a cost of about R25 million.

The much-anticipated 18th edition festival which will be hosted from 26 April to 04 May 2024 at various locations around the town of Phalaborwa will be postponed because MT World (Pty) Ltd legal team has interdicted Mathabatha’s administration to provide reasons why his company was snubbed despite being appointed by the BEC. Mathabatha’s administration have until April 25, 2024 to give notice of their intention to oppose and the applicant will deliver its replying papers, if any by April 26, 2024.

Fifteen-page documents seen by The Azanian confirm that indeed the BEC led by its chairperson Ngoepe NA signed the documents which recommended the appointment of Tshilimandila’s company on March 25, 2024.  

However, LEDET miraculously announced through a tender bulletin on April 19, 2024 that Chulumanco Lilitha got the tender instead of MT World (Pty) Ltd.  Chulumanco Lilitha was also informed by MT World (Pty) Ltd legal team their intention to interdict the tender which was awarded to the company questionably without the BEC blessings.  

ANC senior leaders have labelled Mathabatha a liability who keeps on scoring political own goals which continues to embarrass the ANC before the elections. Some ANC leaders also insinuates that allegations that Mathabatha has embarked on joining former president Jacob Zuma’s new political toy MK party might be profound.

“Mathabatha is not a consummate leader. He is not leading by example as he continues to fail the people of Limpopo. These tendencies of his allies doing as they like because their term is coming to an end must be rejected with contempt... Such things are affecting our people who will dump the ANC for other small parties who are contesting the much-anticipated elections,” said ANC sources.

Another ANC senior who opted to be anonymous urged Tshilimandila who manages Makhadzi and King Monada to take the matter to court in order to get justice because documents don’t lie and that the BEC signed the documents.

“Tshilimandila must just take LEDET to court. I put it to you that LEDET will not emerge victorious on this matter. Our courts remain our last hope because we are dealing with autocratic leaders who are not consummate but corrupt. At times people can subject themselves to calamity in the name of amandla or taking orders from leaders who lost their consciousness,” ANC senior leader uttered.

LEDET MEC Rogers Monama could not be reached for comment when publishing this story.  Another source said: "I trust that comrade Monama will never allow such cheating and corruption tendencies to happen in his department. I know him to be a good comrade unless he is entangled by Mathabatha and his cronies who have embarked on counterrevolutionary trends of destroying our province."

Makhadzi’s manager Tshilimandila said: “It will be disingenuous for me to comment on this matter. I kindly request you to understand.”

Meanwhile, recently Mathabatha who supported disgraced former health minister Zweli Mkhize during the 55th national ANC elective conference and his cronies have appointed the Road Agency Limpopo (RAL) board of directors without following proper procedures.

In what has been labelled “our last time to eat”, bishop Mathabatha and his faction have been faulted for embarking on preparing themselves for the rainy days should their allies not return to power after the much anticipated provincial and national elections. The directors have been appointed less than 60 days before the national and provincial elections.  Mathabatha and his associates did not deem necessary to wait for the new administration to make the appointment. 

The Azanian can confirm that the law requires that directors must be nominated by the public and their names published in a government gazette before appointment, however in this case that wasn’t done, and proper procedures were not followed when appointing RAL directors.

LEDET MEC Rogers Monama

Marula juice prepared by expert

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