ANC’s Limpopo conference ruffles local feathers

The election results, which saw Mathale defeat Joe Phaahla by 601 votes to 519 is a huge blow to Zuma’s bid for a second term in office. The President is highly criticized by Mathale and his supporters for suspending Malema and later taking over half of the Limpopo provincial government departments by placing it under administration. Mathale support was also strengthened late last year when Malema was elected to the provincial executive committee (PEC) of the ANC in Limpopo.
The Limpopo results does not bode well for Mogalakwena’s controversial group of councillors who have last year plotted to oust municipal manager, William Kekana. The group of councillors including the mayor, Esther Mothibi, who, last year insisted on reinstating suspended head of corporate services, Henry Thobejane, and blatantly defied orders of provincial leaders to enforce his suspension, may now find themselves on the wrong side of the political power balance in the province.
Northern News has heard that forensic investigations into the actions of certain councillors have already been launched. “We expect heads to roll,” a source from the council has said. Meanwhile, the position of Kekana as municipal manager (MM)has been cemented for the foreseeable future by Mathale’s victory. Mokopane business leaders, community members and even political opposition has been staunch supporters for Kekana as MM. “He has shown more commitment to improved service delivery and proper administration than we have seen in a long time,” one businessman commented.
In Lephalale it is ANC councilor Jack Maeko who is ambitiously celebrating the Mathale victory. A staunch supporter of Mathale and Malema, Maeko is said to have made no secret of his ambition to become the next Mayor of Lephalale. It is councilor Johanna Mojela who is, for dear life, nervously clinging to the Mayoral chain. It is expected that at the first Lephalale council meeting a motion to oust her as mayor will be placed on the agenda, possibly making way for Maeko to take the reign.
Maeko is known for his criticism of Eskom’s Medupi project and what he calls a lack of commitment by the parastatle to employ more local people. At a youth league rally held in Marapong on 7 December 2011, he and Malema appeared on stage to promote their bid for economic freedom and the nationalization of mines. In November 2011, Eskom agreed to engage with Maeko averting a 4 000 strong protest march in Lephalale only when the Premier as well as former president Thabo Mbeki allegedly stepped in to convince him not to go ahead with the planned action. 
Northern News spoke to a security analyst who is closely keeping an eye on events surrounding Medupi. He believes that tough challenges lie ahead for Eskom as work at Medupi resumes in January. “There will be more protest action early in 2012. We expect that unions will be bypassed and we will see a lot of unlawful protest action surrounding the Medupi project. ”