Magashule looks set for FS seat

2008-07-21 20:14

Bloemfontein - The African National Congress probably will find it easier in the Free State to consolidate power under the present leadership, said a political analyst on Monday.

Academic André Duvenhage of North West University said present provincial leader Ace Magashule, a Jacob Zuma loyalist, enjoyed huge support in the province.

"The ANC is relatively confident that they have consolidated their power under Magashule."

He appears to be the only candidate for the position of provincial chair, to be decided at this week's provincial conference at Parys.

There were rumours earlier that present deputy-chairperson in the province, Pat Matosa, would stand against Magashule, but that seems to be unfounded.

The Free State provincial executive committee was locked in a meeting for most of Monday to finalise the programme of the conference, scheduled to run from Wednesday to Sunday.

It is expected that the party will announce the candidates nominated for the top positions at the start of the conference.

However, the party will have to face a legal challenge first - to stop the provincial conference - before the proceedings can start.

The Bloemfontein High Court is expected to sit on a court application at 09:30 on Tuesday to hear reasons why the provincial conference should not take place.

Challenging suspensions

This is the latest of four court applications against the ANC in the Free State that were filed at the High Court in recent months.

In the other applications, ANC members challenged the validity of their suspensions from the party as well as alleged irregularities at branch and regional conferences in the run-up to the provincial congress.

Among those who have filed applications are two prominent ANC members in the northern Free State, Vax Mayekiso, a business person, and Sello Dithebe, ANC MP for Odendaalsrus, who want the court to reverse their suspensions.

Their application was brought against Magashule, the ANC, national leaders such as secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and about 100 others.

- SAPA