As the ANC in Gauteng clarified that premier David Makhura still remained in his position, its leaders accused national leaders of sowing divisions in the province.
Reports surfaced on Sunday that Makhura had been recalled by the provincial executive committee (PEC) after a special sitting on Friday. However, joined by the province’s top five, Makhura told a media briefing on Sunday he was still the premier, but stressed he was ready to hand over the reins to the next chosen premier.
“I’ve not been pushed... As a leader you must know when to go,” Makhura said.
He said he initiated talks for a transition to vacate the office of the premier as early as February before his term ends in 2024. Makhura said he wanted another chosen leader to deliver the state of the province address (Sopa), which is done around February each year.
“It is my wish that in February next year, Sopa is not done by me but by the next leader the ANC has identified to lead us in government. I’ve made it clear to them that I’m not resigning. I’m not about to submit a resignation [letter] but I want to hand over properly. I’d be willing to hand over when the ANC has gone through its own processes. The timing of that will be determined by the ANC itself.
“There’s a difference between recall, resignation and a handover. This handover and transition must be smooth and it was initiated at my own behest immediately after the provincial conference. This leadership hasn’t come to me to request an immediate reshuffle,” Makhura said.
There has been a strong push by those in the province for Makhura to replace Ace Magashule as secretary-general despite leaders on Sunday saying processes going to the national conference were under way.
The expectation is that Lesufi, who was elected as provincial chair in June, will take over as premier and vacate the position of education MEC.
ANC provincial secretary TK Nciza said they had engaged the provincial working committee and the PEC on the transitional process.
“There is nowhere where the ANC would have said comrade David Makhura should resign as premier. There is no PEC that sat and spoke about the resignation of David Makhura,” he said.
Nciza said people believed there could never be a smooth process in the ANC, but rather chaos.
While the provincial bosses put on a united front during the briefing, Lesufi took a swipe at the ANC’s leaders, saying there was a culture of sowing divisions ahead of national conferences.
The ANC’s elective conference where Ramaphosa is seeking a second term will take place in December.
“What we want to warn and we’re very firm on this one... we know there’s this culture of lectures, leaders coming from other provinces and other places that want to go to our branches to deliver a lecture... somebody who was not even there when we wanted to fight for elections during the local government elections,” said Lesufi.
“They’ve not raised a finger; not supported us [and] they were not here and now that they want to be elected they’re engaging our province. This province is not going to be a playing field and we’re not going to allow people to use the ANC conference to reignite our factional differences.
“We’re strong, we’re not factionalised and are working together on all levels. We don’t want someone to come and reopen those factional lines in our province. We’re going to provide leadership in this province in terms of the national narrative and we’re going to go as a province, not as federal regions,” Lesufi said.
His sentiments were previously expressed by ANC Eastern Cape chair Oscar Mabuyane ahead of the provincial conference in May.
Mabuyane said the province had long been used as a pawn by leaders who wanted to lead the party nationally.
Another ANC insider in Gauteng said there were national leaders trying to interfere in the politics of the province.
“They’re trying to interfere in our space. There are these people based on their own national interest who want a Gauteng that is not stable, so they can go to the president, wanting to be closer to him and say to the president that this thing is done to weaken you.
“It’s those dynamics we’re dealing with here because when has it been a decision of the ANC NEC for a province to replace a premier? We go to national once we’ve concluded our processes and give them three names. Makhura is handing over the baton. This thing is not factional but seamless,” the insider said.
With only 17 months to go, Gauteng ANC has a tough road ahead to the national elections as electoral support dropped to 36.6% during the 2021 local government elections.
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