‘Hands off!’ – Sword of separation cuts deep into structures

A “hands off our leaders!” declaration rang almost louder than the refrain about ever present divisions in ruling party circles in the province the past week as the sword of separation cut deep across structures and cleaved its way down to the core of already fragile alliance partnerships.
A display of what is seen as yet another crack in the party divide was characterised by a rowdy congregation during a memorial lecture of the African National Congress’s (ANC) Peter Mokaba Region in Polokwane last Wednesday evening and prior to that attention being drawn to a rupture fuelled by emotions over the reinstatement of provincial party leaders in the wake of the controversial VBS matter. Amid growing tension it was learnt of the pending demand for the reinstatement of ANC Deputy Provincial Chairperson and Treasurer Florence Radzilani and Danny Msiza expected to be made during a march to provincial party headquarters Frans Mohlala House apparently planned to coincide with a meeting of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the ANC today (Thursday).
In addition, the executives of the regional and provincial structures are in the process of entering into defending a court application challenging the appointment of Lepelle-Nkumpi Mayor Meriam Molala brought by Lehlaga Ezekiel Mphahlele.
During last week’s memorial lecture in honour of second ANC President Sefako Makgatho at Peter Mokaba Stadium intervention was needed following attempts made to prevent ANC Provincial Secretary Soviet Lekganyane from addressing the audience prior to keynote speaker Mathole Motshekga who broke down emotionally as he started his address.
Lekganyane’s introduction of Motshekga during the event was drowned out by a crowd entering into disruptive song and dance and which forced ANC Peter Mokaba Regional Chairperson and programme director John Mpe to take to the podium calling for order. It resulted in more revolutionary song until Lekganyane was allowed a second opportunity to introduce Motshekga, who was tasked with delivering the memorial lecture. Towards the end of Lekganyane’s speech a brief third attempt to silence him had died down and he apologised for the behaviour witnessed that evening and expressed the hope that upon conclusion of the lecture they would emerge better party members.
As soon as Motshekga took to the podium and had the “Viva, amandlas” out of the way, he briefly broke into tears and upon having gathered himself said that the movement was under siege and that Limpopo, where the seeds of the ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe had been planted, could not be the burial place of the organisation. Shortly after he moved for a moment of silence for the slain women and children of South Africa and continued to herald their role and position in society.
Branch defends member, ANC’s Integrity Commission Chair
The previous day the Andrew Mehlape branch of the ANC in Mankweng issued a statement, among others expressing concern about the vilification and public attacks on one of its branch members, ANC Integrity Committee Chairperson George Mashamba. It further stated that having observed a plethora of activities in the region and beyond led by Mpe, they were convinced the ANC in the Peter Mokaba Region was “troubled at the hands of its unilaterally ‘commanding’ chairperson”. The branch called for disciplinary action against Mpe mainly on the basis of challenging, questioning and engaging in several activities against the decisions of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), including what it described as a factional march to ruling party headquarters Luthuli House on 9 September and leading the charge in insulting Mashamba and the members of the committee, publicly declaring threats to disturb meetings of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) of the ANC and allegedly organising (a) weapon-wielding crowd to confront and scuffle with South African Communist Party (SACP) marchers unto Capricorn District Municipality (CDM) – of which Mpe is Executive Mayor – against alleged corruption.
In its statement, forwarded by branch secretary Joel Seabi, the branch further claimed that it was believed that Mpe directed the tampering with membership files, which Peter Mokaba Regional Secretary Eugene Masete was exempted from. The branch named itself as one of many victims of such acts and said they had raised the issue more than once and had correspondence to prove their case through a continuous process aided by Frans Mohlala House.
The media release concluded with the statement that the branch had noted with utter dismay attacks against several other leaders of the ANC and government similar to that against Mashamba, naming Lekganyane and Polokwane Executive Mayor Thembi Nkadimeng as it referred to clandestine attempts to remove Premier and ANC Provincial Chairperson Stan Mathabatha by “masquerading as though they want to defend him, interestingly, against themselves. Hands off our leaders!”
SACP Castro Pilusa District statement
In a statement issued by the SACP in Castro Pilusa District on the same day the structure also came out in defence of Mashamba. It noted with dismay the current frustration and anger championed by what it referred to as the so-called Mayors League in Peter Mokaba Region to march to Luthuli House as mere political opportunism and populism by ill-discipline and lumpen tendencies.
“These counter-revolutionaries are hell-bent to defocus the ANC-led government from continuing to render effective service delivery to our people, as they displayed a similar tendency prior (to) and on the eve of the recent general elections.”
The SACP structure further reiterated the condemnation of the misguided call by the ANC Peter Mokaba regional leadership pushing for the lifting of the ANC NEC-led suspension of Radzilani and Msiza. It simultaneously called on the ANC’s PEC to discipline those who led community members to Luthuli House, starting with Mpe.
Peter Mokaba REC comment
The acting spokesperson for the Peter Mokaba Regional Executive Committee (REC), Jimmy Machaka responded to the allegations levelled against Mpe by saying he was leading a collective of the REC and has not caused any division in branches. Branches in the region were fully behind him and in everything he did Mpe enjoyed undivided support from the entire REC, he added. He raised the opinion that whatever Mpe did was in the interest of the ANC. The same REC decided to question the conduct of the party’s Integrity Committee and call for the reinstatement of both Radzilani and Msiza, indicated Machaka.
Administrative issues of the region were being dealt with by the regional secretary and if there was any allegation levelled against Mpe in that regard they would gladly call on the branch to substantiate such allegations, he said. The first heard of the allegations though the media and the branch had never approached the REC to raise the matter in the past, according to Machaka.
With reference to the court matter, he said the regional structure had instructed its attorneys to oppose the application which the executive strongly believed was malicious and baseless.

Story/photos: YOLANDE NEL
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