CAPE TOWN - Following defeat at the ANC's 9th provincial elective conference, Babalo Madikzela has announced that he is leaving the provincial government.
Madikizela said he would resign from his position as Public Works MEC in the Eastern Cape.
He has been a member of the provincial Legislature since November 2018.
Madikizela challenged premier Oscar Mabuyane for provincial chairperson at the recent provincial elective conference, where he lost, receiving 662 votes to Mabuyane's 812 votes.
“I am definitely leaving. It’s just a matter of time. I have been engaging the leadership. They know I have been wanting to leave for the past two years,” he said.
He, however, did not divulge reasons for wanting to leave.
Madikizela is also at the centre of a Hawks investigation after Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane made damning allegations that he had irregularly benefited from a R1.1 million tender for the memorial service of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela.
Newly-elected ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said they had not yet received his resignation letter.
“We don’t have Comrade Madikizela’s resignation letter before ourselves nor an engagement. Let’s allow that process to proceed, and we will deal with it as it comes and look at all the variables that are involved. If he wants to leave the organisation, we will consider his proposal,” he said.
Political analyst Ongama Mtimka said the campaign was fierce.
Cape Times