Judgment day for Mathale

ANC will most likely disband its Limpopo leadership structure today in what could be construed as a precursor for the recall of Premier Cassel Mathale.

The party’s national executive committee (NEC) will disband Limpopo’s provincial executive committee (PEC) following a report tabled by the national working committee (NWC) after it met with provincial branches and other structures in the province.

The NEC will apparently appoint a task team to oversee the work of the province for nine months.

ANC spokesman Keith Khoza said last night that the NEC was still discussing the matter. “No decision has been taken.”

Mathale could not be reached for comment. ANC Limpopo spokesman Makonde Mathivha said: “You can’t get comment from me, if we are disbanded. I speak on behalf of the PEC. But if it is no longer there, I cannot comment. If I commented, it would be in my personal capacity.”

The province was paralysed by factional fights and polarised between supporters of President Jacob Zuma and the Mathale faction, which wanted Kgalema Motlanthe to take over from Zuma at the ANC conference last year.