The ANC in Limpopo has vowed to continue to enforce the party’s step-aside rule despite having gone to the recently concluded policy conference with a view that the rule should be scrapped. The view by Limpopo and provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal was rejected.
The party in Limpopo has since demoted its chair of chairs Tolly Mashamaite in the provincial legislature. He is now an ordinary member of the provincial legislature.
Mashamaite, the former Waterberg regional secretary, is facing serious corruption charges and becomes the second heavy-weight politician in Limpopo affected by the ANC’s constitution rule 25, which was cemented during the recent ANC policy conference.
Former ANC provincial treasury Danny Msiza, who is facing corruption charges following the VBS scandal that rocked Limpopo, withdrew from contesting his political rival Soviet Lekganyane for the position of provincial secretary because of the step-aside rule.
Speaking to Sunday World this week, ANC provincial spokesperson Jimmy Machaka reiterated that although the province does not support President Cyril Ramaphosa and allies over the step aside rule, the provincial branch will continue to support him for a second term, as well as adhere to the ANC’s policy outcome.
“The provincial executive committee has noted serious allegations and pending criminal prosecution against comrade Mashamaite and pursuant to the 54th national conference of the ANC resolution on the step aside (rule). The decision of redeploying him by the PEC was to afford him ample opportunity to deal with the prosecution against him,” Machaka said.
Limpopo earlier called for a review for the step-aside rule, however, Ramaphosa made it clear during the national policy conference that he won’t change his mind, stressing that it will remain as it is.
Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha weighed in on the matter: “As a province we may have differences on the issue of step aside with our president. I’m not saying we have differences. I say we may have, but that does not in any way change our support to president Matamela.”
Mathabatha also called for unity within the ANC, urging members deployed in government and its entities to accelerate service delivery through clean governance.
According to the National Prosecution Authority, Mashamaite, former mayor of Mogalakwena Municipality Andrina Matsemela and Nkadi Mabusela are facing charges related to corruption and fraud.
The alleged fraud is related to tender irregularities in 2016 and 2019, and the amount involved is around R15-million.
Mashamaite is not new to controversy. In 2016, he appeared in the Mokopane regional court, facing charges of rape and bribery, which were later withdrawn. He was not available for comment after several attempts to contact him.
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