The Free State ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) is getting the ball rolling in ousting Ace Magashule ally, MEC of Roads and Transport Sam Mashinini. Step Up Sa News can confirm the convener of the IPC in Free State Mxolisi Dukwana is set to replace Mashinini as MEC of Roads and Transport and this will be implemented this week. This came as a result of the meeting held on Friday.
Mashinini has been the target of factional battles within the newly formed IPC in the Free State following his defiance to the instruction and agreement by the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) that former president and ANC veteran, Kgalema Motlanthe, would lead the talks in the province to resolve matters through political rather than legal channels.
The appeal by Mashinini, supported by Magashule, was said to be in defiance of the process led by Motlanthe and was quickly extinguished by the then Provincial Secretary Paseka Nompondo.
A leaked whatsapp conversation between Premier Sisi Ntombela and other MECs show a message which many thought was a direct reference to Mashinini. The text alleged to be from Premier read “Ok this one next to me is going. I have decided. Waiting to discuss this with president and Jessie.”
Step Up Sa News could not verify the authenticity of the conversation and the office of the Premier has not responded to our query.
A source within the IPC told Step Up Sa News there is no way you can have an unemployed convener “your article Dukwana to AXE Magashule aligned MECs derailed our plan and we also did not want to jump the gun before the court finalized Magashule’s suspension. But also you can’t have an unemployed convener. Mxolisi must be the MEC period.”
Another source from IPC told Step Up Sa News its shocking that Dukwana is making this about him “the IPC will achieve nothing because everything revolves around Mxolisi, now he wants to be an MEC, he is not the only one who fought the Magashule regime and we have not forgotten the money he received from Ramaphosa and to date he has not gone public to explain like he did at the Commission about what Gashu(Magashule) did. He is treating the IPC like it’s his personal fiefdom behaving like deputy Jesus.”
The deployment committee also discussed fate of its Chief Whip Vusi Tshabalala – another Magashule soldier – and it remains to be seen who from the IPC will replace him as Chief Whip but he can only be replaced as Chip Whip as he has to resign or be suspended to be removed out of legislature.
A source told Step Up Sa News Vusi Tshabalala is protected “Vusi is going nowhere, he is protected by Paseka Nompondo and they are working with Magashule to frustrate the IPC and so far they are winning hence IPC can’t disband RTTs.”
With local government elections moved to 2022 the deployment committee Mxolisied Mangaung Metro Executive Mayor candidates and the five shortlisted names which are that of Mxolisi Siyonzana, Mapaseka Nkoane and Millicent Motingwe, former Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff and Playfair Morule. Morule is a preferred choice by many as Siyonzana is viewed as an outsider. Morule is from Thaba Nchu while Siyonzana is from Coleburg.
A source at Kaizer Sebothelo house confirmed the meeting “it’s true the meeting is happening and it’s a very crucial meeting for that matter because Mangaung must return to its glory self and that can only be achieved by enforcing that all candidates must have post-matric qualifications as president Ramaphosa said. This city is dirty, smelly and corporate governance is non-existent. We are still stuck with a taxi rank that has cost tax payers R350m but remain unused because ba jele chelete (they chowed the money) and no one has been held accountable. Hoffman Square was refurbished for over millions for what? Even President Ramaphosa said ANC is accused number 1 in corruption.”
Step Up Sa News heard the meeting was interrupted by disgruntled ANC members who want the IPC to be dissolved as its failing to steer the province in the right direction and have given IPC 14 days.
Attempts by the Step Up Sa News crew to contact IPC spokesperson, Oupa Khoabane, proved futile at the time of publishing.
This is a developing story.
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