Pretoria - Limpopo Public Works MEC Dickson Masemola has vowed to root out corruption and “represent the ANC better” if he succeeds in unseating Premier Stan Mathabatha as party leader at provincial conference in June.
He has also promised to take over Mowaneng Building, the Limpopo Premier’s Office, within months of toppling his current boss.
Masemola was speaking at a South African Student Congress Right to learn campaign gathering at Ga-Nchabeleng in Sekhukhune last week.
Masemola is challenging Mathabatha ahead of the governing part’s 10th provincial elective conference. He is supported by the Norman Mashabane region (formerly Mopani), the biggest in Limpopo, while Peter Mokaba region has thrown its weight behind Mathabatha. The rest of the regions seem divided between the two men.
Masemola, in his campaign trail, said in two months time he would be marching into the Mowaneng Building as the province’s new first citizen.
He said: “In June we are contesting the conference.
“We are looking at Mowaneng Building and we are going there. Nobody must be told stories. Two months from now we will be able to unveil what we think. We will represent the ANC better, its renewal economically and politically. We have got the know how,” he added.
In ANC tradition, whoever becomes provincial party chairperson becomes a front runner for the premier’s position.
Without mentioning his rivals by name, Masemola added: “We must fight corruption. We must say no to malfeasance and maladministration. It’s time to go back to basics, renew and rebuild the ANC. Limpopo province is the future of South Africa’s economy.
“But to renew the economy we need proper political leadership that is occasioned for proper transformation and engagement.”
Masemola also told his supporters he planned to make Limpopo the best province to live in. “We are looking forward to a good life for the people of this province.
We want to see young people enjoying their social spaces,” Masemola said.
Masemola is no stranger to high political office in Limpopo. He was former ANC provincial chairperson Cassel Mathale’s deputy, and Education MEC, when the ANC national executive committee (NEC) under former president Jacob Zuma disbanded the provincial executive committee (PEC) in 2013 for alleged factionalism.
In his slate, Masemola has the current Mopani District mayor Pule Shayi as his deputy while current provincial ANC secretary Soviet Lekganyane is seeking re-election in the same line-up.
Lesser known members from the Vhembe District, Livhueani Legaraba and Faith Chauke, are contesting the positions of deputy secretary and treasurer respectively.
In the other slate endorsed by the Peter Mokaba Region, led by Polokwane mayor John Mpe, Mathabatba is seeking re-elections as chairperson.
His slate has current deputy chairperson Florence Radzilani in the same position and VBS accused and current treasurer Danny Msiza as provincial secretary.
Msiza has currently stepped aside from all ANC activities because he was formally indicted by the National Prosecution Authority for his alleged role in the collapse of the VBS mutual bank where over R2 billion was looted.
Current deputy provincial secretary and Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Basikopo Makamu retains his position in Mathabatha’s slate, while Peter Mokaba treasurer Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana takes over as provincial treasurer.
Pretoria News