Masualle willing to remain in ANC post
EASTERN Cape premier and ANC provincial chairman Phumulo Masualle said he would be willing to undertake a third term as party leader should ANC branches call for him to stand for re-election.
Masualle was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with representatives of the Eastern Cape business sector in East London yesterday, one of a series of meetings ahead of his state-of-the-province address.
It has been reported that the ANC Youth League in the province has asked him to stand for a third term at July’s ANC provincial elective conference.
“In the ANC, from time to time you get assigned to assume responsibilities, and where one has the ability, you oblige, “Masualle said. “So if that call [for him to run for another term] comes . . . my answer will be in the affirmative.
“However, as the leader of the ANC in the province I am entrusted with making sure we have orderly processes leading up to conferences.
“We have outlined our process to say that, from February 15, branches go for their branch general meetings, and only thereafter can one say there is something serious on the table to consider.”
Yesterday, the meeting with Masualle was attended by business people from the Buffalo City region and the Amathole and Chris Hani districts.
The overwhelming view from the floor was that the provincial government should provide more support to emerging business people, to boost the economy and create more jobs.
Farming representatives stole the spotlight with calls for the provincial government to support emerging farmers and treat them equally with commercial farmers.
An emerging farmer from the Raymond Mhlaba local municipality, Nwabisa Gxothiwe, said a good starting point would be to make a concerted effort to make farming more attractive to the youth.
“It cannot be that young people, who are used to farming while at school in the rural areas, do not see farming as a career path to pursue when they get to university.”
Young people should be helped to enrol at universities to study agriculture, which would build the required skills base in the province, Gxothiwe said.
Other business people called for Masualle to ensure his administration refrained from handing tenders to businesses outside the province.
Masualle welcomed the input and criticism, saying it would provide guidance to his administration.