PHUTI MOSOMANE
SISI Ntombela has notified the ANC of her intention to resign as Premier of the Free State.
Ntombela has been under pressure to step down after she was defeated in the race for the position of Free State ANC chairperson by Cooperative Governance MEC, Mxolisi Dukwana.
On Tuesday, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula confirmed that Ntombela has notified the governing party about her intention to resign as Premier of the Free State on Tuesday.
“The Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela informed me last night that she intends to resign today as Premier, but I haven’t received the resignation letter as yet,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula said ANC in the Free State, like Gauteng, should go through a smooth transition.
“We have David Makhura here who resigned in Gauteng following the provincial elective conference,” he said.
Last month, Ntombela was defeated by Dukwana with 43 votes after the long-delayed and hotly contested provincial conference.
A few weeks ago, the ANC in the Free State resolved that Ntombela should be recalled from her position.
Before the news of Ntombela broke, it was widely expected that she would resign to allow the newly elected ANC provincial committee to lead the party programme.
“The NEC considered reports on the contested Regional Conference of the Mangaung Region in the Free State and the challenges relating to the processes leading up to the Western Cape Provincial Conference.”
“In relation to the Free State conference, the NEC noted the work undertaken by the Task Team led by Cde David Mahlobo and its recommendations to the NWC,” Mbalula said.
He said the NEC supports the decision of the IPC that recognised the outcome of Mangaung conference held at Mvelo Safari Lodge and Lejweleputswa and the respective RECs as duly elected.
“The NEC further directed the PEC to take appropriate action against the organisers of a parallel conference held at the President’s Hotel,” he added.
Mbalula said the NEC further directed the PEC to develop and implement a political management programme or mechanism of bringing all comrades in the affected regions into the fold.
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