ANC mum on Matika
DESPITE multiple assurances that a press statement that would answer all questions regarding the apparent resignation of the Sol Plaatje executive mayor was on its way, reports that Mangaliso Matika has stepped down from his position remain unconfirmed as the ANC in the Province failed to provide any feedback on the issue.
Last week it was widely speculated that Matika had been asked to resign but had refused to vacate his position
The ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) initially called a press conference to discuss the Sol Plaatje matter on Wednesday but postponed the briefing to Thursday morning.
This subsequent briefing was again called off, with ANC provincial spokesperson Naledi Gaosekwe explaining that the PEC was in the process of sorting out “internal issues” and denying that Matika had been asked to resign.
Media were invited to another briefing at lunchtime on Saturday, which was again cancelled at short notice, with Gaosekwe saying that a press release would be issued instead and would provide clarity on the latest developments.
As rumours that Matika had stepped down continued to circulate on various WhatsApp groups and social media on Saturday afternoon, official confirmation was yet to be issued by the ANC, while Gaosekwe reiterated that a full explanation would be provided shortly.
However, no such statement had been released by the time that a scheduled community meeting got under way at the Galeshewe circle shortly after 3pm yesterday.
Further enquiries to the ANC spokesperson were met with empty promises that the statement would be released within a matter of minutes, while the community continued their discussions on the way forward.
At around 4.30pm yesterday, with residents divided on further action to be taken and no clarity on the matter from the ANC, protesters began to barricade the roads leading to the circle, tearing up paving and throwing the bricks into the road.
In a subsequent telephonic conversation, shortly before 5pm, Gaosekwe again gave her assurance that the party would release a statement within a few minutes, at the conclusion of an ANC interbranch meeting.
However, at the time of going to press last night no statement had been issued while the spokesperson’s phone went directly to voicemail.