The Weekly Stinger
No sooner had Pule Shayi moved up to the ANC provincial leadership and secured a seat in Premier Phophi Ramathuba’s cabinet than the wheels fell right off the Norman Mashabane executive committee bus. The leaders inside are fighting like dogs over who gets to sit in the mayor and councillor chairs.
Regional Chairman Dagma Mamanyoha wants the mayoral chain that Shayi left behind. Meanwhile, Secretary Sonia Ngobeni is having none of it. She is busy pushing her own list of preferred councillors. She has cut out top women leaders like Lettie Hlangwana and Sophy Raganya. This mess is adding more fire to a burning house, right when the party needs to prepare for the upcoming local government elections. If you want to check details on voting and the candidate lists for these polls, you can visit the Electoral Commission of South Africa.
Buzzword of the Week: “Internal Democracy”
Official Translation: A fair process where party members vote for their chosen candidates.
Actual Meaning: A loud, messy fight where big leaders throw away the list and pick their own friends instead.
The Weekly Stinger
Our award goes directly to the Norman Mashabane regional executive committee. It takes real skill to turn a moving mini-bus into a total wreck just as an election season starts. While the leaders fight over mayoral chains, the rest of the community is left standing by the side of the road.
Keep your eyes open, Mopani. Watch out for the political fight, and watch out for the potholes.