JOHANNESBURG - Eastern Cape African National Congress (ANC) chairman Oscar Mabuyane and his deputy Mlungisi Mvoko are to be sworn in at the provincial legislature on Monday in Bisho amidst speculations of a looming legislature reshuffle.
Mabuyane was elected chairman at the party provincial conference in October last year, despite the outbreak of violence inside the venue that saw a number of delegates backing Premier Phumulo Masualle to retain the provincial chairmanship storming out of the conference.
Mabuyane and his faction backed President Cyril Ramaphosa to take over from Jacob Zuma.
Masualle was also nominated for chairman, but was not present. ANC national executive committee members deployed to oversee the conference said they had contacted him regarding the nomination.
The other nominated members within the Masualle faction were also not present. The swearing in follows a meeting Mabuyane and his team held with Luthuli House top brass last week in which they made a case for a reshuffle, citing poor leadership and lack of good governance.
Mabuyane would take over as premier while Mvoko is expected to become Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism MEC.
Masualle is also a former health MEC for the Eastern Cape. He was elected ANC chairman in 2009 after defeating then Eastern Cape finance MEC Mcebisi Jonas, who later became deputy finance minister. Mabuyane was ANC provincial secretary before his election.