Nhlabathi takes campaign to his Chrissiesmeer home

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Nhlabathi takes campaign to his Chrissiesmeer home
NGCI: The battle to lead the Mpumalanga ANC came to a head in the Msukaligwa sub-region the past weekend as both leadership campaigns descended on the town, the Tsipane faction go as "#Ngci" while the NdlovuChirwa one is called "#VrrrPha". PICTURE BY 013NEWS/ZK

The leaders want a clean battle at an upcoming elective RGC.


The campaign of Gert Sibande ANC contestant Khulani Nhlabathi to fill a vacant regional secretary post was taken to his home town of Chrissiesmeer over the weekend, east of Ermelo and was also a campaign aimed at speaking to the community about why Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane should actually be ANC provincial chairperson at an upcoming elective conference.

Chaired by Nhlabathi himself, the meeting was addressed by key Tsipane lobbyists – Mpumalanga ANCWL PTT convener Busi Shiba, safety & security MEC Gabisile Shabalala, SANCO deputy secretary Linda Dhlamini, ANC REC member Thembelihle Nkosi, former ANCYL provincial secretary Pholoso Mbatsane well as well as the ANCYL’s Gracious Shabangu.

It declared to wage the fight for women to lead society – by having Tsipane as the first female leader of the Mpumalanga ANC.

Shiba in her address to ANC supporters who had gathered at the Kwa Chibikhulu sports ground Sunday afternoon 9 February 2020 said they are looking at the issue of “two-centers of power”.

She said it was always the case that comrades who were Premiers in the province were also chairpersons of the Mpumalanga ANC.

Nhlabathi takes campaign to his Chrissiesmeer home
ANCWL PTT convener Busi Shiba who says at a time when women should take the helm of society the candidate of Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane is the right one for job of Mpumalanga ANC chairperson

Shiba said they will stand with Tsipane during the time when it’s hard to do so, where other women were fighting them over their choice of a female leader. She said they were confused. 

“Because in the history of Mpumalanga this is the first time we are having a female Premier, so let’s make history comrades and get comrade Refilwe to be the first female ANC provincial chairperson,” Shiba said. 

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In their message of support, the Mpumalanga SANCO said they took a resolution in November 2019 to support Tsipane to take charge of the ANC.

Dhlamini said they were lobbying each and every member in our community to support the cause of a first female leader.

Nhlabathi takes campaign to his Chrissiesmeer home
SANCO deputy provincial secretary Linda Dhlamini

“As community members we have no doubt in the confidence that the ANC has placed on Tsipane to implement its manifesto. We therefore have no doubt in her and we are saying she should be the provincial chair,” said Dhlamini.

ANC regions in the province had been waiting for national secretary Ace Magashule to sign off on the final audit report.

Last week 6 February 2020, Magashule instructed acting provincial secretary Lindiwe Ntshalintshali to begin working towards preparations for the regional and provincial conferences.

Magashule said a team of organisers from Luthuli House will arrive in Mpumalanga to help with processes and will be led by NEC member Nomvula Mokonyane.

Nhlabathi takes campaign to his Chrissiesmeer home
Supporters of Khulani Nhlabathi, Mkhondo mayor Vusi Motha and Premier Refilwe Tsipane make the “Ngci” sign in Chrissiesmeer over the weekend

Nhlabathi plans to face off with Gert Sibande acting secretary Lindi Masina at an upcoming RGC for the vacant post of regional secretary, after which he will take the region with to go support Tsipane who will be contesting Mandla Ndlovu for the position of provincial chair. 

Nhlabathi’s camp is backed by Tsipane and Ermelo’s influential leader Sibusiso Sgudla  – and wants Mkhondo mayor Vusi Motha to come replace regional leader Muzi Chirwa at a June 2020 congress.

Nhlabathi takes campaign to his Chrissiesmeer home
Khulani Nhlabathi

Pholoso Mbatsane told the gathering that when you create “two-centers of power you are saying that there must be a stumbling block towards service delivery”.

He said Tsipane received a lot of votes during the list conference and even those who were opposing her now know it.

“If we are going to temper with the stability of the ANC you are going to temper with the function of the provincial government and that we don’t want. We want no two-centers of power,” Mbatsane said.

(edited by ZK)

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