All the newly elected leaders in the ANC’s Free State structure are an extension of former premier, Ace Magashule, who is now the Secretary-General (SG) an the ANC’s national offices. “This tells us as the DA that the status quo will remain the same and it’s business as usual for the ANC province, “ said the Democratic Alliance’s Patricia Kopane.
Speaking on the election of Police, Roads and Transport MEC in the province, Sam Mashinini as ANC FS chairperson, Kopane said that his character was shady and what’s disappointing is that every time the DA has asked him questions with regards to allegations of corruption in his department, he has avoided and dodged them. “You will remember that even before Sandile Msibi, an HOD at Mashinini’s department died, the department was riddled with allegations of corruption and not once did Mashini ever indicate whether he was investigating these claims or not. If anything, it always seemed like he was covering up somehow,” Kopane said.
Kopane further added that what the DA found puzzling was that after Msibi died in December 2017, Magashule claimed during a speech he made at the funeral that Msibi was poisoned. Details on Msibi’s death were sketchy and he was reported to have died after a short illness. “As the DA we believe that every murder committed in South Africa should be investigated and if the claims are as Magashule said, then there should be an investigation and reports thereof. We asked Mashinini what the basis of Magashule’s comments were and whether an investigation and/or autopsy was carried out as well as if any charges were laid. If not, then where did Magashule get that information from and how was he able to divulge that information so publicly,” Kopane quizzed. She said Mashinini, being the MEC of the department in question, needs to answer on these questions. Speaking on Magashule’s Premier successor, Sefora Ntombela, Kopane said she believes that Ntombela was given the ANC FS Treasurer position to accommodate her and this shows that her appointment as premier is an interim appointment and this could change following the 2019 elections.
“When you look at many of the ANC in the province’s old premiers, they were often both chairpersons of the party as well as premiers. This is the first time in many years that the ANC in the province has taken a step such as this one and it signals to us that they only gave Ntombela the position so she keeps it warm for another person they may have it earmarked for following next year’s elections,” Kopane said.
The ANC in the Free State elected its new leadership in Bloemfontein in the early hours of Sunday, 20 May. Mashinini was the uncontested chairperson of the party, while William Bulwane was elected Deputy Chairperson. Paseka Nompondo was elected as the Secretary, while current Speaker at Free State Legislature, Mamikie Qabathe, was elected as his deputy. Ntombela was announced as the Treasurer and 30 additional members including Mangaung Mayor Olly Mlameli, MEC of Economic, Small business, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) Limakatso Mahasa, provincial ANC spokesperson Thabo Meeko, amongst others were announced as part of the new leadership.
Pulane Choane
