The threatening occupation of African National Congress (ANC) provincial headquarters by Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) members intending to call for the head of ANC Provincial Chairperson Stan Mathabatha, and a possible sit-in by MKMVA provincial leadership three days later were averted last week.
It was reliably learnt that scores of ex-soldiers affiliated to MKMVA in the province had been ready to take over Frans Mohlala House in Polokwane last Tuesday with the intention of demanding Mathabatha’s head for failing to adhere to their demands, relating to a host of concerns centring on deployment, housing and skills development. Moreover members of MKMVA’s provincial executive congregated at Frans Mohlala House on Friday afternoon demanding to see ANC Provincial Secretary Nocks Seabi, in order to clarify the postponement of an urgent meeting requested with the top five of the ANC provincial executive to this Monday. Seabi’s arrival three hours later – in lieu of an apparent arrangement with an absent ANC Deputy Provincial Chairperson Jerry Ndou – prevented the execution of a planned sit-in, Polokwane Observer was informed.
According to acting Provincial Secretary of MKMVA, Lulamile Jack, they had to avoid a situation where the members of MKMVA in the province occupied the building of the ruling party amid skyrocketing frustration levels based on their grievances and frustrations being ignored for too long.
Monday’s meeting resulted in, among others, the resolve for both sides to establish a project working committee to focus on the welfare of MKMVA members and address their longstanding plight, Jack said. The next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (Friday). Already the provincial executive committee of MKMVA has formulated their committee, to be headed by MKMVA Provincial Chairperson John Ngobeni. He said they haven’t received feedback yet on the formation of the ANC committee, to be steered by Seabi.
Although they were waiting in anticipation to see whether the ANC was going to prove to the erstwhile soldiers that they were going to implement and not simply pay lip service, “there is a surprise in a bag if they didn’t act on this”, Jack assured. Members were not patient anymore and he called on them for calm, he stressed in conclusion.
Attempts to secure comment from ANC Limpopo spokesperson Aluwani Netsianda failed.
Story and photo: YOLANDE NEL
>>observer.yolande@gmail.com
Featured photo: Acting Provincial Secretary of Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), Lulamile Jack addresses members of the media during a presser in Polokwane on Tuesday. The media briefing, hosted in conjunction with the ANC Youth League (Ancyl) in Limpopo, focused on the development of joint programmes and taking a stance that Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan is not above the law.
