Matibe to lead ANC in Vhembe region

The mayor of the Mutale Municipality, Mr Tshitereke Matibe, was elected the new regional chairperson of the ANC in the Vhembe Region at an elective conference that was held at the Manenu Traffic College in Mutale last week. The fifth regional conference took place from Friday 18 May to Sunday 20 May.

Matibe, who is also the current chairperson of the ANC in the Mutale subregion, competed against former chairperson Mr Philemon Mdaka. Matibe received 177 votes and Mdaka 143.

Matibe said that the newly elected leadership in the region would strengthen local government in terms of rendering services to the people. "We need to ensure that our municipalities are delivering the needed services to the people," he said.

Mdaka is a former member of Ximoko xa Rixaka.* (See note below) He was the regional chairperson of the ANC in Vhembe for two terms. He is also a former executive mayor of the Vhembe District Municipality and is the current portfolio head of finance in the municipality.

Matibe is said to be an ally of Premier Cassel Mathale.

"It was obvious that Mdaka was going to lose. We knew he would not survive the competition this time," sources from within said. They accused Mdaka of causing division within the party “through his tribalistic leadership style”.

The regional chairperson of the ANCYL in Vhembe, Mr Rolivhuwa Nelwamondo, said: "On the basis of the wave of problems facing our region, we have arrived at a decision that Matibe's leadership will take this region forward." He added that they had full confidence in the leadership capabilities and political know-how of “this tried and tested cadre of the ANC” in the Vhembe region.

A member of the Limpopo Legislature, Ms Nandi Ndalani, was elected Matibe's deputy, while Mr Khathu Netshifhefhe retained his position as the secretary. Makhado Mayor Mr David Mutavhatsindi was elected deputy secretary, while Mr Tshifhiwa Dali was elected as treasurer.  Fifteen additional members from Matibe's faction were also elected.

After his defeat, Mdaka wished Matibe the best of luck.

* Mdaka later on vehemently denied that he was ever a member of Ximoko and said the aim of the report was to tarnish his image and his history. “How can I promote tribalism if I was never part of the bantustan system? My record shows that I was always loyal towards the party and that I work tireless for development in the Vhembe area,” he added. The report appeared in the 1 June 2012 edition of Limpopo Mirror.

Date:25 May 2012

By: 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.

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