By Lungani Zungu
There’s a new sheriff in town in the Free State.
Mxolisi Dukwana, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s key ally in that province, was elected on Sunday as the ANC provincial chairperson in a fiercely contested conference.
Dukwana won by 43 votes after bagging 346 votes compared to current Premier Sisi Ntombela’s 303.
All contenders on Dukwana’s slate emerged victorious. They now have the litmus test of uniting the highly fragmented province.
Dukwana’s running mate Toto Makume was elected as deputy chair with 346 votes, while Thabo Manyoni got 307 votes.
Poleliso Motsoeneng is the new provincial secretary, and Dibolelo Mahlatsi will take over as the deputy secretary.
Mathabo Leeto was elected as the new treasurer-general.
Dukwana’s election to the most powerful and influential ANC position could well spell the end of Ntombela’s tenure as premier of the Free State.
Ntombela and her defeated slate are all staunch backers of Ace Magashule, the former secretary general of the ANC and erstwhile Free State premier.
Their defeat is a glaring indication that the influence that Magashule once wielded has waned, and the odds are now in favour of Dukwana, the man who claimed that Magashule had tried to end his political career.
The conference was hit by a series of postponements due to the infighting in the Free State between warring factions.
The province – which was the birthplace of the ANC in 1912 – went to the 55th elective conference in December without an elected structure due to postponements.
The divisions were also laid bare on Friday when the start of the conference was delayed after some disrupted the proceedings during the registration process.
Dukwana is the former MEC of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
When his relationship with Magashule became rocky, he proudly aired Magashule’s dirty laundry for all to see.
Dukwana went as far as organising marches to support the R255 million asbestos court case brought against Magashule by the National Prosecuting Authority.
Magashule appeared in court last week, and the matter was postponed to 5 May.
Dukwana also gave evidence at the state capture commission of inquiry chaired by then Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, now chief justice.
Dukwana was the convener of the ANC in the Free State from 2018 until May 2021.
Pictured above: New ANC chairperson in the Free State Mxolisi Dukwana
Picture source: Facebook ANC Free State
