Mdaka re-elected as ANC chairperson in Vhembe

Date: 16 October 2009 By: Peter Muthambi

“Tough action will be taken against those who disrupt ANC meetings. We cannot tolerate destructive elements that want to collapse this movement, whilst furthering their narrow political ambitions.”

This opinion was expressed by Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale at the Vhembe Regional ANC conference held at the Northgate Lodge in Louis Trichardt the past weekend.

Prior to the conference, rumours were doing the rounds that a group of people was planning to disrupt the proceedings.

Mathale said it was regrettable that in their ANC meetings, in particular elective conferences, people wasted a lot of time arguing and differing over credentials rather than discussing real challenges facing the movement and the country at large.

Addressing the delegates during the opening of the conference on Saturday morning, Mathale said the ANC would not tolerate unbecoming behaviour from delegates. “Fights for positions in the movement and the government will also not be tolerated. In certain areas, the fight starts at the branches’ general meetings, where people differ on the names of the delegates to be sent to bigger conferences, with everyone fighting to be a delegate. Some comrades fight to the level of disrupting BGMs and threatening to kill each other,” said Mathale.

It was during this conference that Vhembe executive mayor Philemon Mdaka was re-elected as the chairperson of the ANC. Mdaka was competing for the top position against the former chief whip of the Makhado Municipality, Moses Tseli.

Mdaka retained his position as chairperson of the ANC when he trounced Tseli by 137 votes against 92. Mdaka’s group won the top five seats, which include 11 additional members in the committee. Mdaka´s deputy, Shumani Ravhuanzwa, gathered 141 votes, compared to the 85 of his opponent, Faith Chauke, the current speaker of Thulamela municipality. The manager of Thulamela municipality, Makonde Mathivha, also lost in his bid to become the secretary of the ANC in the district. He collected just 85 votes against the 141 of his opponent, Khathu Netshifhefhe.

Florence Rhumani became deputy-secretary when she received 142 votes against the 85 of her opponent, Simon Baloyi. Tshifhiwa Dali became the treasurer after defeating Prince Phandavhudzi by 142 votes against 82.

Mathale further outlined that they should never lose sight of the fact that they cannot all lead at the same time. “This is a reality that we must not forget. We should always remember and appreciate the fact that we are volunteers in the movement.”

In his acceptance speech, Philemon Mdaka said that he had not won the election, but the ANC had. He added that people should not forget that the ANC led as a collective. “There is only one ANC in this region and we will never allow it to be divided into two. We need to focus on the resolutions and declarations made at this conference and not focus on individual aspirations,” he said. According to Mdaka, the newly elected leadership will focus on improving municipal administration of all the municipalities in the district, to enhance service delivery.

“We need to make sure that the ANC is united, so that we cannot lose our sight of rendering good service to the people of this region,” Mdaka highlighted.

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Peter Muthambi

Peter Muthambi graduated from the University of Venda with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Media Studies. He started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror as well as national papers in 2006. He loves investigative journalism and is also a very keen photographer.