The ANC in the Free State has strongly condemned what it describes as alleged patronage practices linked to Mangaung Metro Speaker Lawrence Mathae, warning that the organisation will not tolerate the abuse of power to settle political scores or undermine party unity.
The comments follow allegations that Mathae dismissed five municipal employees for allegedly supporting his rival during the ANC’s fiercely contested Mangaung regional conference, which was later nullified.
Speaking during a media briefing at the party’s provincial offices yesterday, ANC Free State Deputy Secretary Dibolelo Mance said the organisation had taken note of the matter as it is seized with the regional leadership.
“The ANC has taken note of the matter. However, it is seized with the region at this time,” Mance said.
He reiterated the party’s opposition to patronage and factional retaliation, stressing that political preferences should never be used as a basis for employment decisions.
“The ANC has reiterated its position around this issue that patronage can never be the order of the day in the ANC. It does not mean that if somebody might not have supported you, or whatever the case might be, therefore they should be removed from office. It can never be allowed and can never be agreed to by the ANC. We do not subscribe to patronage,” he said.
Journal News previously reported that the affected employees are Dineo Motlhabane, Tsietsi Tekete, Mangi Shounyane, Tseliso Mokoai and ANC regional spokesperson Nqamile Nxangisa. They were allegedly dismissed with immediate effect after supporting Vusi Soqhaka during the regional conference, which was later abandoned and subsequently declared invalid.
The employees, who have yet to return to work, subsequently wrote to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula seeking urgent intervention.
In correspondence seen by Journal News, Mbalula instructed that the matter be treated with urgency and that a report be submitted to his office by 10 May.
The letter was also circulated to senior ANC leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile and ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe, signalling the seriousness with which the party’s national leadership is treating the allegations.
