THE future of Limpopo ANC chairman and Premier Cassel Mathale is now in the hands of the party's top structure, the national executive committee.

The task team which was headed by Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe to investigate allegations of irregularities during the ANC provincial conference in December has completed its work.

It now has to compile a report for the NEC, which will decide whether the conference be nullified, meaning Mathale's provincial executive may be dissolved.

Radebe's team was set up following complaints by those who supported Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Joe Phaahla, who contested the chairmanship of the ANC but lost to Mathale.

But some ANC leaders in the province yesterday told Sowetan that they feared for the worst.

ANC Limpopo provincial spokesman Makonde Mathiva said the team arrived in the province on Thursday last week where interviews were held.

He said the team also held interviews with party regional and provincial leaders about complaints lodged by those who were opposed to Mathale's re-election as party provincial chairman.

Independent political analyst Elvis Masoga said: "Any major decision of the ANC must be understood within the context of the Mangaung conference.

"If Luthuli resolve on disbanding the existing structure of the PEC, the decision will boost (President Jacob) Zuma's political prospects, but if the house decides to give blessings to the existing leadership, the decision will create conditions for Zuma to be contested in Mangaung.

"The ANC is therefore likely to apply King Solomon's wisdom on this one."