Makhura ‘a Gauteng shoo-in’

PROVINCE: PREMIER THE POPULAR CHOICE AMONG PROVINCIAL REGIONS

Sedibeng region publicly announced its choice of David to take over from exchair Paul Mashatile.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who is also acting ANC provincial chairperson, is set to be confirmed as the permanent chairperson at the party’s July 20-22 elective provincial conference.

Indications are that Makhura may be elected unopposed, despite initial reports that suggested Gauteng economic development and agriculture MEC Lebogang Maile planned to challenge him for the senior position.

The premier’s name tops the nomination lists among all five ANC regions in the province, while some regions had nominated Maile for deputy chair.

The Sedibeng region publicly announced its choice of Makhura to take over the position, which became vacant when former chair Paul Mashatile was elected ANC treasurer-general at its 54th national elective conference at Nasrec, west of Johannesburg, in December.

At its regional general council in Vereeniging, southern Gauteng, at the weekend, Sedibeng ANC identified Makhura to lead the party in the province, with education MEC Panyaza Lesufi as his deputy.

Sedibeng want incumbent provincial secretary, Hope Papo, to retain his position with West Rand District Municipality mayor Boyce Maneli earmarked to occupy the deputy provincial secretary position, and Melina Gomba as treasurer.

But the West Rand region, which held a highly contested elective conference at the weekend, is divided about who should be in the provincial executive committee (PEC).

Although both Sedibeng and the West Rand want Makhura as chair, they disagreed on the post of deputy chair, with a camp led by the newly elected West Rand chairperson, Maphefo Letsie, going with Lesufi and a defeated camp under former chairperson, Mzi Khumalo, wanting Maile.

According to a regional source, the divisions in West Rand are so serious that the Khumalo camp has decided to oppose any position from the new regional executive committee (REC). Instead of supporting Papo for secretary as suggested by the Maphefo camp, the Khumalo camp chose Emfuleni mayor Jacob Khawe for the position.

The Khumalo camp also refused to support a local man,