ANC Limpopo calls for Stan Mathabatha to step down

Angry ANC branch delegates from Limpopo have called for provincial chair Stan Mathabatha’s head, accusing him of deviating from the branch’s mandate to vote for Cyril Ramaphosa and joining the radical economic transformation faction.

Mathabatha had been a staunch Ramaphosa supporter but suddenly switch loyalty to his opponent, Zweli Mkhize. He was at some stage touted as one of those Ramaphosa planned to appoint into his Cabinet.

Mathabatha’s surprise u-turn

During the ANC January 8 rally, Mathabatha surprised all when he announced that the province would put its weight behind Ramaphosa.

But Mathabatha angered Limpopo members who accused him and his deputy, Florence Radzilani, of being sell-outs for changing their vote to Mkhize.

“This was not the branch mandate and the victory by Ramaphosa was our expression of anger against Mathabatha and Radzilani,” said a branch member from the Norman Mashabane region.

“Mathabatha especially misled us because he was the one who announced that Limpopo will support Ramaphosa but, at this conference, he joins the RET. That’s the worst betrayal.”

ALSO READ: Radzilani ‘was wrong’ on Ramaphosa U-turn, says ANC Limpopo

“They lied,” said Rebecca Maluleke. “Mathabatha was the first person to pronounce Limpopo’s support for Cyril in January. He sold us out.”

Maluleke said those who supported Mkhize in Limpopo were individuals like Radzilani.

“They never contacted us, the delegates, so we voted according to the mandate,” Maluleke said.

Shadrack Mboweni from the same region said they were happy with the top seven results. “We are behind Ramaphosa. Those who opposed him, like Radzilani, have scandals such as VBS bank. That’s why they are trying to take Ramaphosa out.”

Pule Shai, chair of Norman Mashabane region, reiterated that Mathabatha and Radzilani went against the mandate. “Branches at the PGC [regional general council] had pronounced Ramaphosa as a presidential candidate. But when Mathabatha and Radzilani arrived here they made a U-turn.

“We will call a PGC where we will remove them for working against the branch mandate,” Shai said.

– ericn@citizen.co.za