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Mpho Dube

Limpopo Premier Woes Escalate

Updated: Nov 23, 2023


Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha | ANCYL Provincial Chairperson Tonney Rachoene

The Young Communist League of South Africa in Limpopo has weighed in on ANC provincial chairperson Premier Stan Mathabatha’s criticism calling him to reshuffle his “old people dominated” cabinet which doesn’t consist of a generational mix which was pondered before the ANC 55th national elective conference in December last year.

Mathabatha who lost the national chairperson position to Gwede Mantashe has been under pressure from some Limpopo ANC members of the provincial executive committee (PEC) who called for his axing with ANC deputy provincial chairperson Florence Radzilani for supporting disgraced former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize for ANC presidential position and not adhering to Limpopo PEC mandate of supporting President Cyril Ramaphosa for second term.

Provincial secretary of YCLSA in Limpopo Eksfeni Mazibuko said Mathabatha must adhere to their call or face the music. “As the YCLSA in Limpopo we noted that the entire Executive Council is made up of old people who served during former Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale era and even now they're still in the executive. And their service is useless as they don't change anything toward transforming the lives of young people in the province," Mazibuko warned.


“Unemployment of youth in the province is growing very fast and no one is willing to change the status quo. I want to quote Marks when he said ' The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains ' so we as youth need a young person who will represent the interests of youth in that Executive and it must be considered as a matter of urgency. The young people must be given what belongs to them. Now we're saying it lightly but there will be a time for us to demand it with action.”


President Cyril Ramaphosa’s supporters have accused the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) led by its provincial chairperson Mathabatha of playing double standards and conniving with KZN leadership despite publicly announcing their support for Ramaphosa for a second term.


ANC provincial spokesperson Jimmy Machaka at the time of going to print day) defended both Mathabatha and Radzilani. He said: “The ANC Limpopo has no intention to take against any action provincial chairperson Mathabatha and Radzilani on the basis of supporting another candidate other than the one Pronounced by the ANC Limpopo PEC. It is the view of the ANC Leadership in Limpopo that the National Conference has come and passed and therefore it is now our collective duty to support the elected leadership as led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.”

“Those who are calling for the axing of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson are disingenuous, should understand that ANC Chairperson and Deputy were duly elected by a provincial conference and if the no longer happy with their leadership they should wait for the next provincial conference and that's when they will elect chairperson and deputy chairperson of their choice, as of now both chairperson and deputy chairperson are going nowhere.”

He said however the ANC Limpopo in one of the PEC Meetings reflected on the exclusion of young people not only in the provincial exco but also in various boards on entities in the province.

“The above discussions culminated in the decision that no future appointment or replacement should be effected outside Gender parity and without inclusion of young people. We note the call by YCL, it Is Within their own right to make such a call, however it Is the view of ANC Limpopo that the call Is not necessary and should be rejected.

Machaka said: “The premier is left with a few months in office and it won’t be ideal to remove him at This stage moreover when there Is nothing exceptional that warrants his removal. The ANC Limpopo fully supports the inclusion of young people and women in all Strategic sectors of leadership.”


Meanwhile, Tonny Rachoene, the newly elected provincial chairperson of the ANCYL in Limpopo who has been touted by ANCYL and YCL to become a member of cabinet to support their generational mix, called for unity within the ANC in Limpopo and all the provinces. He also said the ANCYL doesn’t support Mathabatha and Radzilani’s axing.

Rachoene has labelled Premier Mathabatha’s cabinet lazy and incompetent. He said it is disingenuous that the ANCYL has no representation in cabinet and in particular in the Exco of Limpopo Provincial Legislature. “It is a fact that our constitution as the ruling party that there should be youth ,women and people with disability representation in all aspects moreover that the country and the world is growing younger every day it can't be correct that young people are not represented and their interests are not safe.”

He was also reacting to the snubbing of Simon Mathe, acting chairperson of Standing Committee on Public Account (Scopa) and ANC PEC member who is disabled. The ANCYL in Limpopo finds it peculiar that Mathe is the only ANC provincial working committee member who is not a member of cabinet.

Rachoene said:“It is not only the Region Secretariats and Chairperson of all ANCYL Limpopo regions who are saying so, even our PYA structures, we met with the YCL they were very clear on their support and demand that the ANCYL as the leader of PYA must have a representation in the Legislature and subsequently in the Limpopo Executive Council & they said the issue will be raised among other challenges that the youth of our Province find themselves in the upcoming ANC Limpopo Provincial Lekgotla.”

Ramaphosa was earlier before the ANC national elective conference advised by his allies to watch his back from backstabbers who are orchestrating to oust him as the ANC president.

Ramaphosa’s ally, recently elected ANC NEC member and former Education MEC Polly Boshilelo who was prior ANC national elective conference was sacked by Mathabatha threw a javelin at Mathabatha and his allies. “At the moment there are two line-ups. One with comrades Ramaphosa and Fikile Mbalula and the other one is cde Zweli Mkhize and cde Masualle. After consultations with other provinces including Limpopo, KZN pronounced their line-up as led by cde Mkhize. They are now waiting for Limpopo to also pronounce the same line-up of comrades Mkhize and Masualle as agreed. Rena ga re tekateki or gare patlame(we are not confused and pretentious ). Ya rena ke ya comrades Ramaphosa and Mbalula( Our line up is for comrades Ramaphosa and Mbalula). Ga di fule mmogo re tla di bona ka tsatsi la kudugo. (We don’t drink from the same political calabash we shall meet at the battlefield as we emerge victor),” said Boshielo, a former ANC PEC member.


SACP senior leader in Limpopo who opted for his identity not to be revealed said he concurs absolutely with his comrade Boshielo. “Limpopo PEC is disgruntled and not honest. They are supporting KZN and we warned comrade Ramaphosa. The only thing they must know is that all regions are now united over Ramaphosa except for Sekhukhune therefore after the elective conference Mathabatha and his allies will eat a humble pie,” said SACP leader member.


He also said Mathabatha appointed his comrades into his cabinet, provincial treasurer and former Lepelle Nkumpi Mayor Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana and deputy provincial chairperson and former Vhembe District Mayor Florence Radzilani who invested R150 million and R300 million respectively into VBS mutual bank without following proper procedures.

Sibanda-Kekana was appointed as Sports, Arts and Culture MEC while Radzilani was deployed as Transport and Community safety MEC.


“We are putting it to you. ANC Limpopo is bleeding under Mathabatha’s leadership however we are confident that Ramaphosa will emerge victorious and this madness will be over,” said SACP leader.


Mathabatha was placed at the centre of a possible collapse of the tripartite alliance in the province ahead of the ANC’s elective conference in December. This after the SACP and Cosatu labelled Mathabatha as being counter-revolutionary following his recent reshuffle of the provincial cabinet.


To make way for his allies, Mathabatha axed Dr Dickson Namane Masemola, the former social development MEC who contested him for the ANC provincial chairperson position, sport, arts and culture MEC Thandi Moraka, transport, safety and liaison MEC Polly Boshielo, agriculture and rural development MEC Nandi Ndalane, and Jerry Ndo, the former deputy speaker.

Cosatu deputy chairperson in Limpopo, Hangwani Mashau, said: “Cosatu has consistently held the view that it continues to fight against corruption wherever and whenever it raises its head. The federation also decries the recklessness that afflicts the decisions concerning the Limpopo provincial executive council.


“There is no plausible explanation for the reshuffle, except a lame and feeble explanation that it was as a result of performance assessment.”

Cosatu, which backed the SACP in rejecting the cabinet reshuffle, said the reconfiguration had nothing to do with service delivery but was a result of the outcomes of a provincial conference held in June.


Mashau said: “This is a consolidation of factions rather than seeking to eliminate them. It is about rewarding those who belonged to the faction that won and purging those who are seen to have lost the conference. This does not bode well for the unity and renewal of our ally, the ANC.”


The SACP also warned the ruling party to refrain from “political recklessness”.

SACP provincial secretary Chuene Malebana said earlier: “Our understanding and commitment to renewal is clear and unwavering. It’s about uprooting everything bad about the past and ensuring a corruption-free administration and governance.

“Our position against corruption and self-inducing reputational damage on issues of deployment was made very clear during our recent alliance political council. It remains the view of the SACP that the latest reshuffle is an insult to the poor victims of the VBS looting.”

However, the ANC in the province has since dismissed its alliance partners’ call for Mathabatha to withdraw the reconfigured cabinet.

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