Not quite the Ace up premier’s sleeve

SG’s preferred successor pledges loyalty to ANC not him

Free State MEC for sport, arts, culture and recreation Mathabo Leeto has snubbed premier Ace Magashule’s confidence in her. She told Sowetan yesterday that she’s loyal to the party and not to individuals.

“I have been loyal to the ANC and I will remain loyal to the ANC.

“The election of leaders is the prerogative of branches of the ANC. The deployment of premiers is the prerogative of the ANC NEC [national executive committee],” she said.

Last week, at a funeral in the province, Magashule told mourners that either Leeto or Sam Mashinini, the MEC for police, roads and transport, were leaders capable of replacing him as provincial chairman of the party.

Former Free State ANC deputy chairman Thabo Manyoni was also said to be eyeing Magashule’s provincial post.

But yesterday, Leeto poured cold water on Magashule’s wishes and told Sowetan she was not a Magashule loyalist.

Leeto, who is an ANC Women’s League NEC member and the South African National Civic Organisation’s deputy president, said individuals may have their views about their preferred candidates.

“[But] those views do not become official until the NEC has a say,” she said.

“I have been approached by many comrades and branches that have confidence that I can succeed Ace.

“I was not approached by Ace.” SACP Free State secretary Bheki Stofile said being a premier was not a family thing.

“It is the decision of the organisation. If Ace decides to leave, the organisation would make a choice of who should become the premier.

“It was the choice of the organisation for Ace to be a premier,” Stofile said.

Magashule has to vacate his provincial

The deployment of premiers is ANC NEC prerogative

positions after he was elected party secretary-general in December at Nasrec, and became a member of the ANC’s top six.

Stofile said the party was expecting the province to submit three names to Luthuli House for the NEC to make a determination on who should become premier.

The province is expected to hold its provincial conference within the next three months.

/ EMILE HENDRICKS / GALLO IMAGES A file photo of MEC Mathabo Leeto who says she has been approached by many ANC branches to become Free State premier.