Battle for control of Limpopo ANC 'raging'

THE gloves are off in the battle for control of the ANC in Limpopo, where comrade has allegedly turned against comrade and allegations of corruption are flying thick and fast.

Police yesterday confirmed that they were investigating cases of fraud and corruption against the Limpopo government to the tune of R1,5-billion.

The case was opened by Cosatu during its anti-corruption march in Polokwane last month.

Lieutenant Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe confirmed that the investigation involved the departments of health and social development as well as roads and transport.

At the centre of the allegations is ANC provincial chairman and premier Cassell Mathale, pictured, whose opponents accuse of running a corrupt government.

On Tuesday the SA Communist Party in Limpopo called on Mathale and his cabinet to resign and for national government to put the province under administration.

The party accused Mathale and his administration of the irregular awarding of lucrative government tenders to friends and companies linked to him and his ally, ANC Youth League president Julius Malema.

A company linked to Malema - which has allegedly received multi-million tenders from the Limpopo government - is currently under investigation by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

The SACP has also accused Mathale and his allies - allegedly led by ANCYL provincial secretary Jacob Lebogo - of instructing mayors, who were attending an SA Local Government Association summit in Durban recently, to raise R1,2million towards transport and catering for league members who were going to protest outside Luthuli House in Johannesburg, where Malema was appearing before the party's disciplinary committee.

On Wednesday Mathale dismissed the allegations, claiming those who made them were "disgruntled after their companies had been blacklisted for poor performance and workmanship".

Former SACP provincial secretary, Soviet Lekganyane, who is also MEC for corporate governance and traditional affairs, confirmed yesterday that his department had blacklisted a company called Ace of Hearts owned by current SACP secretary, Teenage Monama, for shoddy work in the construction of RDP houses.

But yesterday SACP head of campaigns Mashike Thobejane said the blacklisting was a political ploy aimed at tarnishing Monama's image.

ANC provincial secretary, Joe Maswanganyi, is tipped to take on Mathale for the position of party boss at the next elective conference.