So the discerning Redi Direko disputes the ANC's reasons for appointing Nomvula Mokonyane remier of Gauteng, and gives us what she thinks are the real reasons.

Strangely, Direko does not tell us why the other three provincial ANC chairpersons in Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and North West were overlooked in favour of women.

Instead, she chooses to engage us in high-class gossip and passes that off as the real reason Paul Mashatile, pictured, was overlooked.

I am not a fan of Mashatile's fan, neither am I an ANC supporter, but I think it is mischievous to accuse him of nepotism and corruption without substantiating the accusations.

Direko states: "Mashatile ate too much of the pie and kept his hand in the cookie jar for too long." What does she mean by that?

Supposing what she says is true, would it be less moralistic for the ANC to advance that as the reason for overlooking Mashatile? Lastly, the ANC itself has no track record of fighting corruption, instead it normally closes rank.

Look at what happened to Carl Niehaus and the manner in which the ANC president's corruption charges were dropped.

Siyabonga Keka, Johannesburg