The ANCYL in Free State has called on the new premier, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, to remove the Health MEC and replace him with youth League leader, Zama Sigwebela, who is an MPL.
On Tuesday, ANCYL provincial secretary Mayibuye Bangani wrote a letter to Letsoha-Mathae, and asked her to meet with the provincial executive committee of the youth league, where they would discuss the exclusion of the youth in her executive council.
Bangani demanded, in the letter we’ve read, that the meeting take place at the Kaizer Sebothelo House on Friday.
“Emanating from the resolutions of our meeting, the main purpose of our request is the exclusion of young people in the executive council,” reads Bangani’s letter to the premier.
Bangani told Sunday World this week that it was wrong for Letsoha-Mathae to appoint Cosatu provincial secretary Viceroy Mahlatsi as the MEC of Health instead of Sigwebela.
“During the election campaign, Cosatu’s provincial secretary made a statement and encouraged workers not to campaign for the ANC. Actually, the ANC got these small votes because of Cosatu and Mahlatsi. Cosatu never campaigned for the ANC in the province.
“However, what happened after that was that Mahlatsi was rewarded with the position of MEC, which is nonsense that we cannot stand for.”
Bangani also stated that Sigwebela was more qualified and experienced than Mahlatsi.
“Mahlatsi has no experience in governance because he has never worked in the legislature before. He is a newcomer to government with no experience, whereas Sigwebela has previously worked with MECs and advised them.
“We are giving the premier until Monday (tomorrow) to reverse her decision to appoint Mahlatsi, or else we will march and interrupt all government programmes around the province,” said Bangani.
The feisty youth leader also declared the league’s intention to disrupt the province, demonstrating to Letsoha-Mathae that it was serious about its plan to bring the Free State to a complete halt and render it ungovernable. It planned to take to the streets and disrupt all aspects of government.
Bangani said that Mahlatsi was initially appointed as Chair of Chairs, but Letsoha-Mathae, appointed him the MEC.
“The premier doesn’t value the voice of young people in Free State, including youngsters who voted for the ANC, and she was in the crusade to do what she wanted, not what the party wanted,” he said.
He added: “The premier must just do the right thing by removing Mahlatsi. The premier herself did not even engage the deployment committee when she appointed her executive council. She did her own thing after she failed to reach consensus with the ANC provincial chairperson, comrade Mxolisi Dukwana, and provincial secretary, comrade Polediso Motsoeneng.
“They just let her do her own thing as she didn’t want to listen to them, and then, boom, she appointed her own people, including Mahlatsi, whom we demand his removal from the provincial cabinet.
“Mahlatsi knows nothing, and he must go,” said Bangani.
Bangani also claimed that opposition parties such as the DA, EFF and FF Plus chaired committees, depriving the ANC of power in the province.
“Critical committees such as education, health and social services are led by EFF, while DA is chairing public works, infrastructure, roads, transport, and human settlements, with FF Plus heading Cogta. “In fact, the Free State government is under the government of provincial unity because of Mahlatsi and Cosatu, even though we won elections by 52%,” said Bangani.
He said that on Monday, the youth league’s provincial executive committee (PEC) requested a meeting with the mother body’s leadership but only Dukwana came.
“Prior to the elections, we had issues and demands regarding what we wanted addressed, but the provincial secretary threatened us with security. The secretary also told us that our actions would lead to expulsion.
“NEC deployees, comrades Parks Tau, Mzwandile Masina, and Njabulo Nzuza told the secretary that this was not how we should be treated by our leadders,” he said.
Mahlatsi’s spokesperson Mondli Mvambi said: “The MEC is aware of the call made by the Youth League in the province seeking his recall or removal. The MEC serves in EXCO at the behest of the Premier who is empowered by the constitution.”
Free State premier’s spokesperson Setjhaba Maphalla said “The Premier acknowledges receipt of the letter of the ANCYL. The Premier further acknowledges the contents of the letter. The premier is of the view , correctly so, that the matter is better placed to be discussed by the ANC.”
