BCM: former MP Maxhegwana to replace speaker
The ruling party’s provincial bosses have seemingly snubbed ANC Dr WB Rubusana regional chair Pumlani Mkolo as councillor in Buffalo City Metro.
The ANC provincial deployment committee resolved on Tuesday to deploy veteran politician Humphrey Maxhegwana to fill the vacancy left by the sudden Covid-related death of former speaker Alfred Mtsi last week.
Maxhegwana is expected to be sworn in at next week’s council meeting, which will pave the way for him to be elected as speaker should council vote in favour of it.
However, the deployment of Maxhegwana will likely cause more divisions in the already fractured ANC in BCM as a majority in the regional executive committee and the ANCYL wanted Mkolo to be sworn in next week.
Had Mkolo’s supporters had things their way, he would have been voted in as deputy to his ally-turned-foe, mayor Xola Pakati, with incumbent Zoliswa Matana being made speaker.
Mkolo’s snub will likely raise questions on his hold of the region. His faction has argued that deploying Mkolo to council would have been in line with the party’s position on doing away with two centres of power.
The ANCWL is believed to have campaigned for MP Princess Faku, whom they wanted as speaker. SACP provincial spokesperson Siyabonga Mdodi and BCM mayoral committee member Amanda Myute’s names were also suggested as possible replacements for Mtsi.
But ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi confirmed on Wednesday that Maxhegwana got the nod.
He said this was because the anti-apartheid activist and seasoned politician had all the attributes the party need in a council speaker.
He pointed to Maxhegwana’s extensive experience in the National Assembly, which included chairing the communications portfolio committee during the President Jacob Zuma tenure and a stint as chief whip at the legislature.
“So we are expecting that as speaker, overseeing the legislative body of a council that is as troubled as BCM, he will do us proud.
“Part of the ANC’s decision in strengthening local government is that we should look for people who are experienced and well versed with issues, hence we opted for tat’uMaxhegwana,” he said.
This will be Maxhegwana’s return to active politics as he did not make the cut to go back to the National Assembly after the 2019 general and provincial polls.
On Wednesday morning, Maxhegwana’s appointment had not yet been communicated to party structures. By the afternoon, Maxhegwana said: “I last heard from the provincial secretary on Tuesday that my name was among those proposed by the structures to go into council. He then asked me to sign an acceptance form, which I did, but after that, I have not heard anything from anyone.”
Maxhegwana is also a former ANC provincial secretary.
Mkolo could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Asked about who the other front-runners were, Ngcukayitobi said: “There are many men and women of high integrity and capabilities, but among those who were considered, he [Maxhegwana] became an automatic and obvious choice.”
ANC insiders said a majority in the ANC regional structure had called for Mkolo to be sworn into council.
An insider said: “The region wanted the deputy mayor [Matana] to take over as council speaker, making way for Mkolo to be the city’s new deputy mayor.”
Just hours before the ANC resolved to deploy Maxhegwana, ANCYL regional leader Ntembeko Dodo took to social media to campaign for Mkolo.
He said they had resolved at a special regional task team meeting on Monday that Mkolo should fill the vacancy.
“I am not a Mkolo fanatic, but a fanatic of the ANC constitution and norms. I am asking the PEC to respect not Mkolo as a person, but the office he occupies.”