
Shongwe was declared a winner of the upcoming provincial conference by branches of the largest region that were convened by Ngrai ‘Lomdzala’ Ngwenya to declare support for Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane for the ANC position of provincial chairperson.
The eHlanzeni region has agreed they will support provincial treasurer Vusi Shongwe to come serve as the provincial deputy chairperson on Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane’s slate.
The region, with its most influential leaders now preparing the ground for Tsipane to take over, said they are “comfortable” with Tsipane working with Shongwe at Che Masilela House in Mbombela.
They say Shongwe is a very principled and committed ANC leader, someone with a vast amount of experience in governing society.
eHlanzeni strongman Ngrai ‘Lomdzala’ Ngwenya announced the slate Wednesday 29 January 2020 to scores of branch members who had come to declare support for Tsipane at the district municipal building in Mbombela CBD.
He announced Shongwe to thunderous applause as their favoured candidate for the position of deputy provincial chair, PEC members Pat Ngomane and Sasekani Manzini as secretary and deputy secretary respectively.
ALSO SEE: Bongani Phakathi wants Fish Mahlalela, Mandla Ndlovu, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali and Speedy Mashilo to the front – also himself
“We are still to discuss the position of treasurer comrades,” Ngwenya said.
He said that he had been asked by the Gert Sibande region to lobby eHlanzeni to support Shongwe for the position of deputy provincial chair.
He said Gert Sibande needed the seat of “Number Two”, a reference to the seat of deputy chairperson, and they have heard the request.
Shongwe is from the small town of Breyten, east of Ermelo, in the Gert Sibande region and now the Tsipane bloc will support him to deputise her.
The Tsipane bloc had not been comfortable with Nkangala leader Speedy Mashilo becoming her deputy. Mashilo’s Nkangala region has declared support for acting chairman Mandla Ndlovu to become the Mpumalanga ANC chairman, Mashilo his deputy, Gert Sibande leader Muzi Chirwa as provincial secretary, acting secretary Lindiwe Ntshalintshali to retain her post of deputy secretary and co-operative governance MEC Mandla Msibi becomes the treasurer.
Ngomane said eHlanzeni, as Mpumalanga’s largest region by branch numbers, will win the conference.
He said he was appealing to anybody who hasn’t realised the Tsipane wave to come to their senses and see that the eHlanzeni region will determine the conference.
(edited by ZK)
Send tip-offs to editor@013.co.za