Manyoni takes on Dukwana

The Free State ANC’s much anticipated provincial elective conference which will be held later this year or in early 2023, will be the most open contest in the history of the province.

In late 2017, Ace Magashule, the now suspended secretary general of the ANC won the chairmanship, that earned him the title of the longest provincial chairman of the ANC. This is despite three provincial elective conferences being declared unlawful and were set side by the courts.

With other provinces having had started with branch, regional and provincial conferences early indications are that in the Free State the former Mangaung Metropolitan Mayor – Thabo Manyoni – is leading the pack with respect to support. Whereas the convenor of the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) and the incumbent MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Mxolisi Dukwana has lost significant ground support following divisions within his camp.

Manyoni was contesting Magashule in the last conference and complained on 702 on the 15th of December Fs 2017 confessing that vote rigging in the ANC is a norm and he has been part of it after Magashule said their bond was stronger than ever.

Prior to that interview Manyoni spoke to SABC and this is what he said.

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Under Thabo Manyoni, Mangaung Metro refurbished and renamed Dr Molemela stadium, built the useless redundant and taxi rank at R350 million which Auditor General of South Africa declared irregular and spent millions on Hoffman Square.

Thabo Meeko, former ANC Free State spokesperson bashed Manyoni calling him “ill-disciplined” in November 2017.

“The PEC also noted with concern the ill-disciplined conduct of Manyoni, in flouting the principles of the ANC Democratic Centralism.

His unfortunate utterances of condoning unbecoming behavior of usage of outside institutions to resolve internal issues of the ANC.”

While we can point out positives and negatives of Manyoni, its very difficult to point out what Dukwana ever achieved in government.

Dukwana is accused among others of ignoring the 6 point plan document which the two factions signed with former president Kgalema Motlhanthe as a facilitator of unity who was in Bloem this past weekend.

Further more, in 9 months of unity and renewal only Dukwana joined exco and the rest are allegedly out in the cold and they feel sidelined and are disgruntled.

Dukwana is allegedly using the Southern Sun hotel in Bloemfontein as a meeting point to address any issues and this according to his allies is his downfall.

“ANC members are engaged on the ground not on some hotel behaving like elitism and bourgeoisie.

If we were to go to the conference in the next three months Dukwana will not even make in the PEC.”

Another source said the biggest problem the Dukwana faction did was opting for the convenor position instead of coordinator especially with a person like Dukwana.

“We made an error thinking a convenor position will be influential but not with Dukwana, in North West Hlomani Chauke is hands on unlike MEC convenorwho cant even get Mangaung to function now he has Human Settlement.

Now we realize the most important position is occupied by Nompondo, we are finished.”

According to sources privy to the situation Manyoni’s slate will have Nompondo as secretary general, William Bulwana as treasurer, Sefora Ntombela as Deputy chair and Mamiki Qabathe as deputy secretary general.

While Dukwana’s slate will have Polediso Dihelele Motsoeneng as secretary general, Toto Makume as treasurer, Mathabo Leeto as deputy chairperson, Kelebogile Wesi as deputy secretary.

If the abovementioned slates are anything to go by then the renewal talks were just talk-shop.

Even the visit by former president Kgalema Motlanthe this past weekend will not resuscitate the ANC.

In other unrelated news unconfirmed reports say the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) will add another charge into the already isolated suspended secretary general of the ANC, Ace Magashule.

According to sources this relates to Human Settlement case that convicted Mpho Mokoena, former Human Settlement HoD who was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment wholly suspended.

Oupa Khoabane, IPC spokesperson for Interim Provincial Committee said the ANC has not looked back at utterances from the past when asked if ANC has asked Manyoni about his vote rigging allegations.

“The IPC has not devoted time to the past negative utterances from members, the situation was filled with an atmosphere of conflict then.”

With regards to the R10 000 Dukwana got from Guptas as he told Justice Zondo, Khoabane said.

“The ANC NEC has resolved to convene a team that will assess the recommendations of the report of the Commission on State Capture. It is the recommendations of that team that will guide our approach to issues emanating from the Commission.”

The ANC has been making noise about “through the eye of the needle” that was supposed to assess its leaders but that too, remains a talk shop.

Khoabane is conclusion said anyone can contest elections regardless of the behavior.

“The ANC allows any member to contest for leadership position. It’s only if the internal processes have adverse findings that excludes a member from contesting that render such a person illegible. The ANC deplores any contest done through slates as such a conduct ferments abhorrent conduct and divisions.”

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