Free State premier moves against top Ace ally

Ntombela suspends Sam Mashinini

Free State premier Sisi Ntombela has moved to put on ice one of suspended ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule’s key allies, Sam Mashinini.

Ntombela suspended Mashinini as the MEC of police, roads and transport pending an investigation into the lack of progress into the construction of roads, including the one between Reitz to Tweeling, Cornelia to Villers and Orangeville to Deneysville, among others.

“The office of the premier has appointed consultants to do an investigation into the issue of lack of progress with the work on five roads. In order to facilitate the progress with and the integrity of this investigation, I deem it appropriate that it should take place in an environment which is devoid of any pressure from any side,” Ntombela said in a letter to Mashinini.

“It is for this reason that I have directed you not to report for duty until the investigation is completed, which should be soon,” she said, adding that the suspension did not affect Mashinini’s membership of the provincial legislature.

The ANC in June disbanded the provincial executive committee of the party in the Free State, a structure in which Mashinini was a provincial chairperson. The decision followed the judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal in March which said the 2018 provincial conference, which elected Mashinini as chairperson, was unlawful.

Former Free State economic development MEC Mxolisi Dukwana, who is a known

Magashule nemesis, was appointed as convenor of the interim provincial committee.

In April, Sunday World reported that Ntombela was planning a reshuffle of her provincial cabinet to oust Magashule’s allies. Earlier this year, a Whatsapp message emerged in which Ntombela revealed her intentions of firing Mashinini.

“…Ok, this one next to me [Mashinini] must go. I have decided,” read the message.