Calls for Stan Mathabatha's resignation intensify as ANC faces turmoil in Limpopo

Calls have intensified for the provincial chairperson of the ANC in Limpopo, Stan Mathabatha, to resign from his party duties and step down entirely from both his provincial leadership roles and his position as Deputy Minister for Land Reform and Rural Development. 

This pressure follows a letter from Mathabatha to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, in which he expressed his wish to "step aside" from his provincial ANC responsibilities.

He cited "unethical behaviour" within the party as the reason for his decision, saying he did not want to be associated with it.

The controversy deepened as the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) labelled Mathabatha a "hypocrite" for his actions. 

The youth league welcomed his decision to step aside but condemned his stated reasons and characterisation of the party. 

The league's secretary, Phineas Sebola, solidified the mounting pressure for a complete departure from both his party and government roles.

"We call on the ANC leadership to reject this step aside. If Mathabatha feels that what he calls his integrity is too big for the ANC, he might as well pen a short resignation letter without causing drama. This must be accompanied by his resignation from Parliament and his role as a deputy minister," he said.

Despite the provincial ANC denying the fallout with Mathabatha, sources within the party in the province have confirmed that the feeling on the ground is to "let him [Mathabatha] go".

"He has not played a role as ANC provincial chair since his departure as premier. He has become weak in the province, and therefore, they see no need to keep him there," said the sources.

Mbalula has summoned the entire ANC leadership in Limpopo to Luthuli House for a crucial meeting expected to take place later today, Thursday, to address and "iron out their problems".

On Thursday afternoon, provincial spokesperson Jimmy Machaka could not be reached for comment.

He indicated that he was en route from Limpopo to Gauteng, presumably to attend the meeting with Mathabatha, Mbalula, and some top brass of the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).

Mathabatha’s decision to step aside, communicated in a letter dated September 1, has sent ripples through the provincial political landscape. 

The former premier, without elaborating, stressed in his letter that his decision was driven by a need to protect his personal integrity and disassociate himself from the "unethical conduct" he observed under his leadership.

In the letter, Mathabatha specifically pinpointed the contentious conferences in the Vhembe and Waterberg regions, stating that "the processes toward and conduct within the conferences of the Vhembe and Waterberg regions were improper".

These conferences have been marred by serious allegations of meddling and vote rigging, with accusations even pointing to the involvement of some leaders at Luthuli House, the ANC’s national headquarters. 

Mathabatha asserted his need to maintain his reputation, declaring: "To uphold my reputation and integrity, I cannot stand aloof to such unethical and un-ANC tendencies occurring under my leadership."

Limpopo ANC official Thabo Mabotja took to social media, accusing Mathabatha of hypocrisy and vociferously calling for his resignation as deputy minister as well. 

Mabotja's post highlighted what he perceived as selective principles, questioning why Mathabatha would only raise concerns about the Waterberg and Vhembe conferences when he himself addressed a "bogus regional conference of Peter Mokaba, which didn't have a final verification report and had serious challenges of credentials and legitimacy".

The ANC in Limpopo is regarded as one of the party's strongholds, especially after their counterparts lost power in Kwa-Zulu-Natal due to the emergence of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party, led by former ANC president Jacob Zuma.

Mathabatha's announcement has also opened the door for several names to be touted for the position of provincial chairperson in the next elective conference, including Premier Phophi Ramathuba and Polokwane Mayor John Mpe.

The ANC in the province is calling for an early elective conference.

 mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za