DAMASCUS OF THE DAMNED - Blackballing Attempts Aimed at Ostracising Limpopo Government Aimed at Confusing the People:
The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) Limpopo perceives as suspicious the timing of National Government's decision to place Five Limpopo provincial government departments "under administration".
Against the backdrop of persistently ignored positive reports of successful, clean audits by the Auditor General; we believe this action, led by National Treasury, is a disingenuous attempt - which is informed by political manoeuvring, to alienate ANC members of Limpopo from its leaders.
The ANC in Limpopo has just concluded its audit-approved branch nominations in preparation for conference between 17 and 20 December. We find it curious that this announcement follows on the heels of the closure of the leadership nominations linked to mandatory pre-conference procedure.
The Youth League in Limpopo believes that the timing of this recent campaign is aimed at reducing the confidence of ANC members in the current leadership. With the hope that if a negative impression is created around our leaders in government that this will change the nomination pattern of ANC branch delegates going to conference in about ten days' time.
This is an anarchic attempt to reverse the psychological beating that the branch nominations have revealed for some hopefuls who see themselves as emerging Limpopo ANC leaders.
It is therefore no coincidence that majority of the departments being placed under section 100(1) (b) of the Constitution target specifically the currently widely preferred leadership of the ANC in the Limpopo.
Further, we maintain the stance that this action is tantamount to divisive leadership on the part of ANC leaders who also happen to be government leaders in the departments involved in this "section 100 (1) (b) intervention of the Constitution".
We wish to firmly clarify and assure all employees of our government that the ANC government in Limpopo is secure and financially viable. The lies being peddled by anonymous forces that salaries and payments to service providers will not be honoured by our government are malicious and completely untrue.
The people of Limpopo employed by the government across the board will get paid in time and they will be paid their salaries in full. Service providers will also be paid their due invoices where it is expected and necessary for them to get paid.
There should be no panic among our people. We call for calm and cool heads at this time.
Furthermore, these lies are potentially damaging to the reputation of the government itself. This naïve and malicious campaign is short-sighted as it could result in loss of investor-confidence; which our government guards so closely. At a time when our focus should be on job creation for the youth especially; we are busy with self-deprecating campaigns. This is not very smart.
The Executive powers bestowed on top government leadership require that leaders govern the republic in a manner that engenders and promotes the unity of the nation and advance the nation. As a politically motivated action - we do not view this action as the proactive, corrective and collective action that it is made out to be. We view it as a knee-jerk reaction of those who fear that a change of ANC Leadership in Mangaung in 2012 may mean the end of their political lives as they know it in the ANC.
As such, our strong contention therefore is that this action counters the unity-goals espoused in the South African Constitution and re-emphasised at the ANC's Polokwane conference in 2007.
To this end we wish to make known our condemnation for the misuse of state administrative and executive powers to bully and push fellow comrades in the leadership of government into a corner and attempts to ostracise them.
Consequentially, the ANCYL Limpopo in the province believes this action is intended to politically blackball the leadership of Cassel Mathale, especially in the face of recent overwhelming branch level nomination of Cassel Mathale to re-emerge as Limpopo Chairperson of the ANC.
Threats to have Cde. Cassel Mathale forcibly removed as head of government in Limpopo have persisted from certain quarters of the movement on a consistent and almost predictable basis. Therefore the ANCYL is not surprised at this recent move by National Treasury.
The Youth League in the province will not be moved from its support for the leadership of Cassel Mathale and the rest of the leadership line-up, as previously stated.
We have confidence in our leaders in government and no amount of bullying and abuse of state powers will change this.
Statement issued by Cde. Che Selane ANC Youth League Limpopo Provincial Spokesperson, December 6 2011
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