Buffalo City’s mayor and his Nelson Mandela Metro counterpart are likely to retain their positions after the August elections – that is, if the ANC wins the elections there.
The Dispatch can reveal that the ANC’s provincial leadership decided to reinstate Alfred Mtsi’s name on its proportional representation (PR) list before sending it to Luthuli House, the party’s headquarters, on Friday.
Mtsi was left out of the initial list by delegates at the WB Rubusana region’s list conference last month.
His omission is understood to have been motivated by factional battles within the ANC-led tripartite alliance in BCM. Mtsi’s name in now sixth on the party’s PR list.
Several sources confirmed that Nelson Mandela Metro’s Danny Jordaan topped the party’s list for that region.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed yesterday that provincial leaders had intervened, and added Mtsi’s name to the list “to stabilise the region”.
Mtsi, a South African Communist Party leader, was among several SACP activists in the council who did not make the cut.
This was despite the mayor, having resigned as a member of the provincial legislature last year, coming to save the face of the party in BCM following the axing of then mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and her deputy Themba Tinta following their arrest in connection with alleged misuse of Nelson Mandela funeral funds.
“We moved Mtsi from the provincial legislature where he was comfortable to serve for five years and sent him to Buffalo City to change things around. It can only be fair to ensure that such changes do not affect one’s wellbeing. The province intervened in that context,” said Mabuyane.
However, he said, that did not guarantee Mtsi the mayoral chain.
“Deployment in municipalities is not the mayoral position only. There are other strategic positions he can serve in. At this stage I can’t put my head on the block,” said Mabuyane.
He would not be dragged into any discussion regarding Jordaan.
He said: “The issue of mayors is going to be decided between the regions, the province and the national office. National is going to take a decision. Anyone the national leaders feel strongly will be able to carry the ANC’s mandate in BCM, or any metro, will be made the mayor and that decision will be respected by all.”
Mabuyane said the process stated that regional leaders would be asked to nominate three names immediately after the party submitted its candidate list to the Independent Electoral Commission. The mayoral candidate will be chosen from those names.
Mtsi reinstated to top of list
The Dispatch can reveal that the ANC’s provincial leadership decided to reinstate Alfred Mtsi’s name on its proportional representation (PR) list before sending it to Luthuli House, the party’s headquarters, on Friday.
Mtsi was left out of the initial list by delegates at the WB Rubusana region’s list conference last month.
His omission is understood to have been motivated by factional battles within the ANC-led tripartite alliance in BCM. Mtsi’s name in now sixth on the party’s PR list.
Several sources confirmed that Nelson Mandela Metro’s Danny Jordaan topped the party’s list for that region.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane confirmed yesterday that provincial leaders had intervened, and added Mtsi’s name to the list “to stabilise the region”.
Mtsi, a South African Communist Party leader, was among several SACP activists in the council who did not make the cut.
This was despite the mayor, having resigned as a member of the provincial legislature last year, coming to save the face of the party in BCM following the axing of then mayor Zukiswa Ncitha and her deputy Themba Tinta following their arrest in connection with alleged misuse of Nelson Mandela funeral funds.
“We moved Mtsi from the provincial legislature where he was comfortable to serve for five years and sent him to Buffalo City to change things around. It can only be fair to ensure that such changes do not affect one’s wellbeing. The province intervened in that context,” said Mabuyane.
However, he said, that did not guarantee Mtsi the mayoral chain.
“Deployment in municipalities is not the mayoral position only. There are other strategic positions he can serve in. At this stage I can’t put my head on the block,” said Mabuyane.
He would not be dragged into any discussion regarding Jordaan.
He said: “The issue of mayors is going to be decided between the regions, the province and the national office. National is going to take a decision. Anyone the national leaders feel strongly will be able to carry the ANC’s mandate in BCM, or any metro, will be made the mayor and that decision will be respected by all.”
Mabuyane said the process stated that regional leaders would be asked to nominate three names immediately after the party submitted its candidate list to the Independent Electoral Commission. The mayoral candidate will be chosen from those names.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos