THE ANC in Gauteng has been backed into a corner with all sectors of society gunning for it following the election of Qedani Mahlangu as a member of the Provincial Executive Committee.
Mahlangu has been at the centre of controversy since she oversaw the Life Esidimeni tragedy. Another addition that has captured people’s attention was that of Brian Hlongwa, who was also elected to be part of the PEC.
The party is now in over drive trying to difusse the public outcry over the pair. The Gauteng ANC has asked for patience as it undergoes internal processes to deal with the controversies surrounding both individuals.
Newly elected provincial chairperson David Makhura said the PEC had given the elective conference a report back on matters involving Mahlangu and Hlongwa and the conference stated that the matter should be resolved soon.
Makhura said conference delegates used their judgement knowing that there were processes underway in addressing the issues related to the matter.
“I think the totality of the ANC’s processes will be when the integrity processes has concluded. Conference is not the integrity committee. Delegates will exercise their judgement and when they have exercised their judgements we respect that. These two comrades have been elected into the PEC,” said Makhura.
Mahlangu resigned as the MEC of health in Gauteng following the Life Esidimeni tragedy which resulted in the deaths of 144 patients after they were removed from Life Esidimeni to unlicensed NGOs.
She shouldered the blame as she had signed off on the removal of patients’ as part of “cost cutting measures” the department was undertaking.
Mahlangu denied responsibly for the tragedy when she testified at the Esidimeni hearings earlier this year. She shifted the blame and said that her subordinates were in charge of the project.
There was also an outcry last year when she was seen campaigning.
Hlongwa who is also a former MEC of health was fingered in fraud amounting to over R1 billion. He was implicated in a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) report that uncovered corrupt and fraudulent dealings worth R1.2 billion.
The corrupt activities are said to have happened between 2006 and 2009. The report by the SIU was concluded and its findings were handed to former president Jacob Zuma but he failed to take any action against him.
Hlogwa has denied any of the allegations levelled against him but the DA has since opened a cases against Hlongwa and ANC under the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act. The party alleges that the ANC received R870 000 from the Gauteng health department when it was headed by the Hlongwa .
Panyaza Lesufi who was elected as Makhura’s deputy said it was agreed that the matters should be resolved speedily.
“We were seriously directed with immediate effect to attend to these two matters that have been raised, both from an ethical point of view, but importantly from a resolution point of view,” said Lesufi.
He added that no one would be shielded when they are found in the wrong.
“There must be no stone left unturned. If there are matters of this magnitude, the leadership must be decisive, it must be effective, it must be active to resolve this matter,” said Lesufi.
The Gauteng ANC newly elected leadership
1. Provincial chairperson – David Makhura
2. Deputy provincial chairperson – Panyaza Lesufi
3. Provincial secretary – Jacob Khawe
4. Deputy provincial secretary – Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko
5. Provincial treasurer – Parks Tau
Additional members
1. Ntombi Mekgwe
2. Khusela Diko
3. Kgosientso Sputla Ramokgopa
4. Lebogang Maile
5. Matome Chiloane
6. Boyce Maneli
7. Robert Mashigo
8. Dr. Bandile Masuku
9. Dr. Rebecca Dikgamela
10. Tasneem Motara
11. Judith Tshabalala
12. Refiloe Kekana
13. Pretty (Mam Mkhize) Xaba
14. Mapiti Matsena
15. Bones Modise
16. Lindiwe Lasindwa
17. Dolly Ledwaba
18. Ezra Letsoalo
19. Peace Mabe
20. Dipuo Mvelase
21. Tshilidzi Munyai
22. Qedani Mahlangu
23. Kedibone Diale
24. Mbali Hlophe
25. Vuyo Mhlakaza
26. Elias Mzi Khumalo
27. Morekane Mosupye
28. Hope Papo
29. Brian Hlongwa
30. Gogo Ndlovane
DA’s Jack Bloom said the re-election of scandal-plagued Mahlangu and Hlongwa shows the moral bankruptcy of a party that protects its own at the expense of everyone else.
He said ANC members in Gauteng obviously don’t care about Mahlangu’s role in the horrendous deaths of 144 Esidimeni patients, nor the mounds of evidence that implicates Hlongwa in R1.2 billion corruption in the Gauteng Health Department (GHD).
“It is a poor excuse for Premier David Makhura to say that the ANC’s toothless Integrity Committee will deal with Mahlangu and Hlongwa. This committee was supposed to take a decision on Hlongwa four years ago, and has not censured Mahlangu more than 18 months after the Esidimeni disaster. It seems that Hlongwa continues to enjoy support because of money funnelled to the ANC by entities that had corrupt dealings with the GHD – at least R870 000 according to evidence in court documents,” he said.
