Limpopo is on the verge of having the first ever woman premier, though the prospective candidate is not popular among labour unions in the province. However, the SACP has welcomed the nomination.
Phophi Ramathuba, the health MEC, was nominated for the premier position alongside MEC for sport, arts and culture Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana, Cogsta MEC Baiskopo Makamu, and Florence Radzilane, the MEC of transport and community safety.
During the ANC’s expanded provincial executive committee to discuss a possible replacement for outgoing premier Stan Mathabatha, Ramathuba was the most popular during the voting processes.
Ramathuba garnered 58 votes, beating Sibanda-Kekana (50 votes), Makamu (33 votes), and Radzilane (15 votes).
Mavhungu Lurule Ramakhanya, who is the MEC for education, declined the nomination.
Opposition from labour unions
Despite her popularity among the top brass at Frans Mohlala House, the party’s provincial headquarters in Polokwane, Ramathuba is facing widespread opposition from labour unions.
Since the news of Ramathuba’s likelihood of ascending to the Mowana Building, the office of the premier in Limpopo, both the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) and the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) came out guns blazing, opposing the move.
Since her appointment as health MEC in 2015, Ramathuba’s relationship with the two unions has been sour.
Nehawu and Denosa say they have a deep-seated fear that, should she be elevated to the premiership, Ramathuba could run the province to the ground.
Collapse in staff morale
Nehawu provincial secretary, Moses Maubane, alleged that Ramathuba’s leadership style is based on populism.
“Phophi is not a revolutionary leader this province is looking for as a premier. Under her stewardship, we have seen a collapse in staff morale in many areas of the health sector,” said Maubane.
“There was gross malfeasance in the department, and when we tried to engage her, she was rude and arrogant.
“We have had many grievances that needed her attention, and many of them were left unresolved. There were also corruption cases in which she was fingered for wrongdoing, but she never faced the music.
“The many cases she failed to resolve at the department are going to haunt her even when she becomes the premier.
“Ramathuba acted with impunity, and this kind of leadership will collapse this province.”
Despite condemnation from unions, the South African Communist Party (SACP) in Limpopo says it welcomes the nomination of Ramathuba as the Premier candidate.
She is equal to the task
SACP provincial spokesperson, Charley Nkadimeng, said: “The SACP welcomes comrade Phophi’s nomination because we have witnessed her sterling job at the Department of Health.
“Should she be appointed, the SACP will offer her the necessary support, all with the condition that she will prioritise and champion the transformation agenda in favour of the [low income groups] and the working class.
“We’ve got no doubt that she will be equal to the task. We also recognise that, ultimately, it is an ANC process and would therefore await the final decision of the ANC NEC.”
Rural clinics operational 24 hours
Jacob Molepo, the provincial secretary of Denosa, said Ramathuba had her shortcomings, but there are areas in which she improved during her incumbency.
“One of the key areas in which she is commendable for her work was to ensure that some of the rural clinics became operational for 24 hours,” said Molepo.
“The recent procurement of a fleet of ambulances is one of the highlights of her tenure.
“However, I must say, she had many flaws as a political leader who meddled with administrative duties that could have been executed by the office of the head of department.
“Ramathuba was all over the place, trying to run the show alone. Even though there were spokespersons for her and the department, she was all over the mass media and social media platforms.
Distracted on duty
“She wanted to become a popular figure while the department had internal problems that needed the political head to provide astute leadership.
“While she was distracted, the department was disintegrating. Her leadership style was not up to standard, and her appointment as premier could jeopardise the province.”
ANC provincial spokesperson, Jimmy Machaka, said it is incumbent upon the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to elect the premier.
“The NEC is currently conducting interviews over two days, and when the right time arrives, we will be notified of the new premier,” said Machaka.
“The ANC in Limpopo retained its power grip after amassing an overwhelming 73.5% of the total votes during the recent general elections.
