ANC officials hamstrung by Mbalula

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The power struggle between Kaizer Sebothelo and Luthuli House has hamstrung the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) in Free State.

This was after the postponement of the media briefing by Free State Premier, MaQueen Mathae, a few minutes before the scheduled time (17h00) on Tuesday, 18 June 2024.

Details behind the sudden postponement have been shared with this publication and show the next five years will be very tumultuous for the ANC and service delivery will take the back seat yet again.

According to an insider at the O. R Tambo building where the briefing was to take place, a call came through and Premier called off the presser and left.

“We were told to organize the media briefing hastily but just before we could start a call came through, the presser was called and Premier left.”

Another insider at Kaizer Sebothelo said Polediso Motsoeneneng, provincial secretary caught the wind of what was happening and called the Premier.

“The Provincial Secretary caught the wind of the presser and since top officials didn’t know anything, he called the premier but it was a futile exercise.

Only after PS called ANC’s Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, and SG calling the Premier, the presser was canned.”

Mathae reportedly headed to Kaizer Sebothelo house to talk to Motsoeneneng but she found him with Provincial Chairperson, Mxolisi Dukwana and she allegedly demanded to speak to Motsoeneneng alone but Dukwana refused to leave.

“The Premier did come through and found Provincial Secretary with Provincial Chairperson, and asked to see PS alone, the chairman refused to leave and the Premier presented her lineup to which there was no resistance not even questions.

This is her lineup and hers alone, no input from officials.”

In case you missed it, this is where everything started.

WATCH:

THREE CENTRES OF POWER.

The last time ANC went through such a phase Ace Magashule was the chairman, Beatrice Marshof was the premier and Nobi Ngobane was killed.

This is something Mathae knows so well as she was working with Premier then and her Head of Department at Community Safety, Roads, and Transport received death threats last year.

Text sent to Dr Masego Tshabalala last year.

All eyes will be on Mathae and her team.

In other news, the Free State High court is listening to part B of an application brought by suspended Kenny Dichabe, CEO of Free State Gambling Tourism and Liquor Authority against Jack Tladi, board chairperson.

Dichabe is challenging the decision by Tladi to suspend him as he (Dichabe) is of the view that only the MEC can suspend and/or dismiss him.

While Thabo Meeko, MEC of DESTEA did not oppose the application, his HoD, Dr Mbulelo Nokwequ has approved a request by FSGLTA board to fund a senior council to defend the application despite MEC opting not to oppose or defend.

The current acting CEO of FSGTLA was appointed by the MEC, Dichabe was also appointed by MEC.

This is a developing story.

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