WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2009-05-01 Time: 09:00:06 Posted By: Jan
By ANDISIWE MAKINANA and CARIEN DU PLESSIS
IN yet another vote of no-confidence in its provincial leader, the ANC has overlooked Western Cape chairperson Mcebisi Skwatsha and appointed his deputy to a senior position.
On Thursday, the party’s national executive committee (NEC) appointed outgoing Premier Lynne Brown as leader of the main opposition in the provincial parliament.
Brown, who this morning confirmed her appointment, is the deputy chairman of the ANC in the province and sits in the NEC.
Leader of the opposition is the most senior position given to a member of the opposition party in the provincial parliament and is normally held by its most senior official. Skwatsha, as ANC chairman, is the party’s most senior official in the province.
The leader of the opposition is also the main opposition’s spokesperson in parliament and gets a special salary for the position – currently R853 000 per annum.
An ordinary member of the provincial parliament (MPP), which Skwatsha will become, earns between R650 000 and R680 000.
Brown’s appointment over Skwatsha also strengthens what ANC insiders have been persistently alleging, that Skwatsha will be “deployed” as an ambassador elsewhere in the continent. Kenya and Burundi have been mentioned as his possible destinations.
One ANC member told the Cape Argus on Thursday that Skwatsha was “receiving training on protocol” in preparation for the ambassadorial role.
In January, the NEC brought former party chairperson Chris Nissen back from the political wilderness to lead the party’s provincial elections campaign, sidelining the Skwatsha-led provincial executive committee in the process.
Another new appointment by the NEC is that of former Cape Town mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo as the National Assembly’s deputy speaker.
Mfeketo, who became an MP in 2008, will deputise for the newly elected Speaker, ANC stalwart Max Sisulu.
The ANC’s choice of premier candidates for the provinces where it secured a majority in the elections also contained a few surprises: both Gauteng Premier Paul Mashatile and ANC Northern Cape chair John Block were dropped in favour of lesser-known candidates.
Housing MEC Nomvula Mokonyane was chosen to succeed Mashatile, while Pixley ka Seme district mayor Hazel Jenkins was named as the Northern Cape premier candidate.
There is speculation that Mashatile, who last year was tipped to take over from deputy finance minister Jabu Moleketi after his resignation, is destined for a job in the cabinet.
ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe announced the premier candidates as well as the party’s nominations for new parliamentary leaders after a three-hour meeting of the NEC in Kempton Park last night.
Apart from serving Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale, who took over the reins from Sello Moloto – who defected to Cope shortly before the elections – all the premiers will be new to the job of leading government in their provinces.
The ANC’s other premiers, all of whom will be duly elected by their legislatures next week, are: Eastern Cape – Noxolo Kiviet, currently speaker in the legislature; North West – Maureen Modiselle, currently Finance MEC; KwaZulu-Natal – Zweli Mkhize, currently Finance MEC; Mpumalanga – David Mabuza, currently Agriculture MEC; and Free State – Ace Magashule, currently Sport, Arts and Culture MEC.
Mokonyane has done a fair job in delivering houses in Gauteng and Mantashe said gender was not the primary factor in her selection.
Jenkins was one of Cosatu’s preferred candidates for the ANC’s NEC during the Polokwane conference, and is said to have done a good job leading the district municipality.
Kiviet, who has served in senior positions in the provincial legislature for more than a decade, is considered to be an experienced and solid leader.
Other parliamentary shake-ups that were announced include former Gauteng premier Mathole Motshekga becoming the ANC’s new chief whip, while Gratitude Magwanishe, an ANC parliamentary whip, will be his deputy.
Mantashe said MJ Mahlangu was due to stay on as chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Nosipho Ntwanambi will be the ANC’s chief whip in the NCOP, while Nosiviwe Madlala-Routledge returns to the position of chairwoman of the ANC caucus.
Mantashe said cabinet positions were not discussed at yesterday’s meeting, but it is expected that ministers will be appointed next Saturday.