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Mpho Dube

Limpopo Premier’s Demeanour of Dodging President Ramaphosa Vexes ANC Comrades

Updated: Dec 20, 2023






Zweli Mkhize’s political ally Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha is in hot water for snubbing his rival President Cyril Ramaphosa during his official visits in Limpopo.

Mathabatha recently raised plethora people’s eyebrows and ANC PEC members when he deployed his crony Charley Sekwati to be acting premier during the day of reconciliation national event held at Thohoyandou Stadium in the Thulamela local municipality, in Limpopo's Vhembe district.

Ramaphosa was accompanied by sports, arts and culture minister Zizi Kodwa who went with him to visit Fulufhelo Special School, a legacy project in Thohoyandou established in 1987 by the Phalalani Association for people with intellectual disabilities.

ANC PEC members expressed their grave concern about Mathabatha’s conduct of avoiding their comrade Ramaphosa several times during his national agendas in Limpopo.   

“Ever since he sold out and defied the PEC mandate of supporting comrade Ramaphosa he has been hibernating.  He attends private parties with his cronies instead of doing his work. He is embarrassed because he is an ally of the so called amabubezi faction of Zweli Mkhize who was walloped by the buffalo soldier. He is out of order therefore the PEC needs to discipline him,” said an ANC PEC member.

Mathabatha lost to national chairperson Gwede Mantashe after he defied the Limpopo mandate by chanting “Amabubezi” slogan.  Last year, the outgoing Limpopo premier and ANC provincial chairperson perplexed the ANC members in Limpopo by supporting President Ramaphosa’s rival disgraced former health minister Mkhize during the ANC national elective conference. Mkhize lost to Ramaphosa who walloped him with 2 476 votes after receiving 1887 votes

Another PEC member said: “Mathabatha has lost appetite in attending government events as well as ANC programs. He is always avoiding President Ramaphosa and comrade secretary general Fikile Mbalula. He will have to explain himself. ”

Mathabatha missed the 8th District Development Model Presidential Imbizo to Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo, on Friday, July 14,  2023 which was navigated by President Ramaphosa. He also sent Sekwati to appear on his behalf as acting premier. 

The Azanian can also confirm that Mathabatha also failed to make it to the launch of the Border Management Authority in Musina in Limpopo in which was presided by President Ramaphosa on Thursday, October 5, 2023. The BMA is responsible for the management and control of South Africa's land border posts, airports and seaports.

He also abandoned ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula’s addresses of Peter Mokaba memorial lecture in Polokwane on Sunday,  June 25, 2023 and  the provincial edition of the ANC 2019 Manifesto Review on Saturday, September  9, 2023 at Giyani Stadium.

When pressed for comment Mathabatha who was seen looking flamboyant appearing in private parties instead of participating in official national events or some ANC occasions addressed by Mbalula said his lieutenant Sekwati who is perceived as his bulletproof to dodge Ramaphosa is “the head of governance in Limpopo” who will always be the acting premier when inaccessible. He refused to respond to The Azanian questions and opted to subject himself to amnesia.

Provincial spokesperson of the ANC Jimmy Machaka defended Mathabatha saying Mathabatha doesn’t avoid President Ramaphosa or Mbalula. “It is our view that at the time both the SG and the President were in the province, the premier/chairperson was either held up or had prior arrangements which were unavoidable,” Machaka said.

Meanwhile, Mathabatha's allies who had an ambition to succeed him were rejected by branches of the ANC in Limpopo.

Florence Radzilani and Nkakareng Rakgoale failed to make it into the ANC Limpopo top 20 candidate which was adopted by the Limpopo PEC.

Some ANC PEC members labelled Mathabatha a sell-out who is remote controlled by former President Jacob Zuma and his allies.

“This is the end of the sell-out. Mathabatha’s cronies destroyed the ANC in Limpopo,” said the ANC PEC member who opted to remain anonymous.

SACP PEC member said Mathabatha is a factory fault who failed to reprimand his political bishop Danny Msiza, the former ANC provincial treasury. 

SACP leaders labelled Mathabatha as an inconsistent sell-out pompous leader who failed to adhere to Limpopo ANC PEC mandate. “We welcome the latest developments following the snubbing of Nkakareng and Florence. That’s good riddance for they are suffering from entitlement syndrome,” SACP leader said.

Health MEC Poppy Ramathuba who dumped the VBS faction has been touted as the next Premier. The ANC leader who opted to remain anonymous further said pointers are already indicating that Ramathuba is the emerging candidate for the Premier candidate in Limpopo Province and she is fully supported by majority PEC members, and the leagues and alliance structures.

ANC Limpopo provincial extended committee meeting which took place in Bolivia Lodge on Dec 8, 2023 approved the Limpopo candidate selection outcomes as presented by the provincial list committee (PLC).

 The ANC source told The Azanian that the during PEC extended meeting, there was no single objection to the candidates selection outcomes and the meeting resolved to adopt the candidate list without any reservation and the decision to adopt the candidate list was contrary to media speculations that the Limpopo candidate list was marred by irregularities.

According to another ANC PEC member the outcomes of the candidate list processes is a classic example that ANC branches in Limpopo do have confidence in Radzilani who is number 23 on the list.

ANC source said amongst the candidates topping the ANC Limpopo list on province to province is; Ramathuba with more than 390 branch nominations, followed by Kekana Grace with 372 branch Nominations followed by Thabo Mokone with 322, Matibe Tshitereke with 316 , Tonny Rachuene with 302  and Bella Kupa with 247 branch nominations across the province.

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