Gauteng MKMVA backs Mashatile

The Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans' Association (MKMVA) in Gauteng will support the re-election of ANC provincial chairman Paul Mashatile at the party's elective conference, it said on Thursday.

"We support the proposed leadership collective suggested by majority ANC branches in the province," the Gauteng MKMVA said in a statement.

The organisation backed the nomination of premier David Makhura for deputy chairman, health MEC Hope Papo for provincial secretary, former deputy health minister Gwen Ramokgopa as his deputy, and Gauteng legislature speaker Ntombi Mekgwe for treasurer.

"We support this leadership collective with a clear mandate that they must address the alarming socio-economic conditions of our military veterans in line with both Polokwane and Mangaung resolutions regarding military veterans," the MKMVA said.

The African National Congress in Gauteng postponed its elective conference which was meant to be held this week.

The conference was now expected to be held from October 3 to 5 in Pretoria. The party said it had reached the 70 percent quorum of branches, allowing it to proceed with its provincial conference.

Spokesman Dumisa Ntuli said regional general councils were taking place this week, and branches were busy with conference discussion documents.

According to reports, some branches in the province were unhappy with the two centres of power scenario. The leader of the party in the province has usually been the premier.

This has not been the case in the past five years when former Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane was at the helm of the province. At the time Mashatile was ANC provincial chairman.

Mashatile is expected to retain his position after next week's conference and Makhura to be his deputy.

The conference will also elect the party's new provincial executive committee.

 

 

(File photo: Gallo Images)