Political relations ‘shaky’ after conference debacle

RELATIONS between the new ANC provincial leadership and the party’s government deployees are shaky.

This was revealed by provincial treasurer Babalo Madikizela on the sidelines of the Progressive Youth in Business breakfast at the East London Golf Club on Thursday.

Asked if the provincial leadership had any intentions of reshuffling the provincial government and recalling premier Phumulo Masualle from office, Madikizela said that was not a priority.

“We have not had that discussion as the provincial executive committee and that is not a priority for us.

“However, we don’t really work well with our deployees in government. We have not even met the premier.

“And the MECs have not been available to attend ANC programmes in the province,” Madikizela said.

The provincial leadership would engage its government officials and politicians to find solutions to the impasse that could affect service delivery if not attended to, he said.

“We don’t have a problem with two centres of power in the Eastern Cape. We are clear that the only centre of power is the ANC.” Madikizela said the ANC was focusing on the implementation of radical socioeconomic transformation for black people.

Former provincial deputy chairman, Treasury MEC Sakhumzi Somyo said he could not comment.

“I am here on a business platform and we highlighted how to sharpen our working relations in all aspects of society including political platforms,” Somyo said.

The rift between the government and the ANC can be attributed to violence that erupted during the provincial elective conference, leading to chairs being thrown and some delegates injured.

Masualle contested a third term against former provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane. After the violence, Masualle and his supporters left the conference venue.

There have been a number of attempts to have the conference declared invalid, including an appeal to the ANC and the courts.

The courts dismissed the attempts and the ANC has not announced its final decision.

Masualle was subsequently elected to the party’s national executive committee last month.

We don’t really work well with our deployees in government