The sources say the man is such a powerful force to the extent that he receives frequent calls from ANC deputy president DD Mabuza and is also poised to become the next ANC regional chairman.
An imminent cabinet reshuffle in the eMalahleni local municipality and Nkangala district municipality may see ex-ANCYL regional chairman Mduduzi ‘Mswati’ Nkosi becoming the new mayor of the district, this paper has learnt.
013NEWS understands that the factions are preparing for a battle that will see Nkangala mayor Sarah Masilela removed from her position and Mswati taking over from her.
This should “ensure stability” as ANC deputy president DD Mabuza also flexes his muscles while appointed Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane flexes hers, changing spokespersons and bodyguards for the ones she prefers over those of her predecessor.
Sources say Mswati is so powerful to the extent that he receives frequent calls from Mabuza and is also poised to become the next ANC regional chairman in what will look like the installing of one of Mabuza’s lieutenants in Mpumalanga’s economic hub.
It is still unclear where this puts Speedy Mashilo, the regional ANC chairman who is believed to be having interest in provincial political battles.
Mtshweni-Tsipane may become the new ANC chairwoman in that battle with Gert Sibande chair Muzi Chirwa apparently becoming the secretary.
Mashilo was on the top 5 on the list sending people to legislature for the 6th provincial government in which Mtshweni-Tsipane was number one. But Mashilo, who has been serving as MEC for traditional affairs and co-operative governance, never made it when Mtshweni-Tsipane announced her cabinet a week ago.
Both Mswati and the ANC in the region said suggestions that Mswati is gunning for Masilela’s position was unfair and they “have never discussed that”.
“I think what you are saying is a rumour and I should not entertain it,” Mswati said when asked whether it was true if he was gunning for Masilela’s position.
He said if there was “such a thing” he was going to “release a statement”.
League regional secretary Thabang Mathebula said they know nothing.
“As far as I know there was an REC meeting that deliberated on the issue of accessing the performances of councillors only for the purpose of services delivery. I really know nothing about a cabinet reshuffle coming to remove a mayor.
“What I can say is that as young people we want young people to occupy strategic centres of power. We are having a policy with the ANC and we want 20% of young people to occupy positions in all the municipalities,” Mathebula said Thursday last week.
“But for the issue you are raising I don’t want to say things I don’t know,” said Mathebula.
ANC regional spokesman Sello Matshoga said they have always wanted clean governance in the district but issues of Mswati have not been discussed.
“The last REC meeting that we discussed matters of governance was when we spoke about Victor Khanye municipality as well as Thembisile Hani and we spoke about the issues of accessing the performances in terms of what it must deliver to people and we were able to make certain changes on certain deployments.
“Other meetings that are being talked about as ANC we can’t say they are there because we have not heard about them or made them part of REC decisions. It’s just rumours and as the REC we do what is there and not rumours because rumours do not feature in our discussions for the lives of our people. We will always communicate decisions and that won’t be a problem as it has never been. And we always release press statements to communicate our decisions,” said Matshoga.
(edited by ZK)
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