Phophi Ramathuba takes the lead for Limpopo’s first female premier

Despite hitting the headlines for telling a bed-ridden Zimbabwean patient at the Bela Bela Hospital to go back to her country for help – in a video that went viral – Limpopo health MEC Phophi Ramathuba is set to replace Premier Stan Mathabatha as the province’s first female premier.

Ramathuba is understood to be leading all the nomination lists in Limpopo, outclassing top contenders such as education MEC Mavhungu Lerule Ramakhanya; sports, art and culture MEC Nakedi Sibanda; and transport and community safety MEC Florence Radzilane.

Since the advent of democracy in 1994, Limpopo has never had a female premier.

The first premier was Ngwako Ramatlhodi from 10 May, 1994 to 22 April, 2004.

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The second was Sello Moloto, from 26 April, 2004 and resigned on 2 March, 2009 after defecting from the ANC to Cope. The third was Cassel Mathale, who was appointed in May 2009 and resigned on 15 April, 2013.

Mathabatha became the fourth Limpopo premier from 18 July, 2013 to date. His term is expected to lapse next year. He has been credited for saving the province from the brink of collapse following years of financial mismanagement.

Recently, calls have been mounting from ANC branches for a female premier. Branches said they wanted a hard-working and articulate woman, who knows the politics of the ANC inside-out, and how local government runs to lead the province.

Radzilane is ANC deputy provincial chair and has vast experience in local government. She had the backing of most ANC branches to replace Mathabatha. But that seems not to be the case in the Limpopo ANC.

Alliance partners don’t want VBS-tainted premier

The party’s alliance partners – Cosatu and the SA Communist Party, backed by the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) – have been clear from the word go they don’t want any VBS-tainted individual as premier.

However, Radzilane has not been criminally charged, making her the most preferred candidate, which is in line with the ANC’s succession culture and tradition.

A member of the ANC’s regional executive committee in the Vhembe region said: “Remember, Florence was never charged for any wrongdoing in relation to the VBS saga.

“Moreover, she is the most experienced comrade in as far as local government is concerned. You know what the law says, one is innocent until proven guilty by the court of law.”

ALSO READ: ‘I appointed Ramathuba as a politician, not a doctor,’ Mathabatha tells those calling for her head

“Watch the space, she may baffle many when the results come out.”

A source within the ANC’s provincial executive committee last night told The Citizen that as of yesterday, the premier candidate list had Ramathuba leading the pack, with Ramakhanya second and Sibanda in the third spot.

Agriculture and land reform MEC Thabo Mokone is in the fourth place, ANCYL provincial chair Tonny Rachoene in the fifth place, while ANC Women’s League NEC member Makoma Makhurupetje and MEC for cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs Basikop Makamu are in the sixth and seventh places, respectively.

Repeated calls to get comment from the Limpopo ANC yielded nothing as spokesperson Jimmy Machaka’s phone continued to ring unanswered.

Machaka also did not respond to text messages.