Jostling for NC premiership reaches fever pitch

The race is on for the premiership of the Northern Cape is heating up ahead of the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting which might result in a possible cabinet reshuffle scheduled to take place on Tuesday next week.

Provincial ANC spokesperson, Gail Parker confirmed that the ANC will discuss the performances of all provincial government department based on a report drawn from the ANC’s provincial Lekgotla that took place last year.

Among others, the ruling party in the province will also discuss its campaign for the 2014 elections aimed to kick start in this year.

Parker could not be drawn into divulging the names of possible candidates for the position of premier, and only said a formal announcement will be issued after the PEC meeting.

A tentative list of names is already being bandied about by ANC members, according to an insider.

The list includes names such as Tina Joemat-Pettersson, the minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries; former Speaker of the Northern Cape Legislature, Connie Seoposengwe; acting premier, Grizelda Cjiekella and deputy minister of mineral resources, Godfrey Oliphant.

The call for by the Frances Baard ANC Youth League regional executive committee for the axing of the MEC for transport, safety and liaison Patrick Mabilo, along with his head of ministry, Phutuma Mguza, is expected to fail due to their popularity in the ANC’s biggest region.

It is believed that the two are in good terms with national executive committee member and police minister, Nathi Mthethwa, who is one of Zuma’s most trusted lieutenants and it will be difficult for the PEC to give in to the league’s call for the pro-Zuma camp ouster.

The provincial secretary of the Communist Party Norman Shushu is also expected to be axed following his failure to heed a call of National Education Health Allied Workers Union (NEHAWU) to suspend his head of ministry Pele Modise over recent corruption allegations.

The MEC of education Grizelda Cjiekella is expected to retain her position as MEC, judging from her outstanding performance regarding the improved matric results.

On the other hand, the party is calling for Olifant to lead the province but his detractors argue that he is not rooted among the branches and will not be given the nod by the ANC PEC to become premiership.