Phuti Mosomane
Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba has been appointed ANC Premier candidate for Limpopo and becomes the first female Premier replacing Stan Mathabatha.
The decision was announced by the ANC on Thursday. The party said all interviews were observed by the Chairperson of the ANC Electoral Committee Kgalema Motlanthe, said party Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula in a statement.
This is the first time that the party will not field a premier candidate in KZN, and is expected to enter into coalition with other parties in Gauteng where the party has received less than 40% of the votes.
In Limpopo the ANC secured 73.3% in the national elections held on May 29.
Ramathuba’s appointment is, to many analysts, a historic moment for gender equality after the Limpopo extended ANC PEC shortlisted women – Ramathuba, Sport; Arts & Culture MEC Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana and a man Cogta MEC Basikopo Makamu in order of preference as premier candidates.
The trio were interviewed by ANC national officials this week together with other successful candidates from the Free State, Northern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and the Eastern Cape.
Ramathuba has been a member of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature since May 2019 and was among the favourite Premier candidates because of her work in the health sector during her tenure as Health MEC of the province.
Dr Ramathuba pursued her studies at Sefako Makgatho School of Health Sciences (previously known as MEDUNSA) where she obtained MBCHB. She further achieved a Master’s Degree in Medical Pharmacology from the University of Pretoria, Advanced Health Management from Manchester Business School.
During her student days, she became the Branch Executive Committee member of South African Student Congress (SASCO) and later Provincial Executive Committee member Gauteng Province. She continued to become the General Secretary of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and also its Deputy President.
She has also served as President in the South African Medical Association Trade Union, as Treasurer General of the CommonWealth Medical Association, member of the COSATU CEC, branch secretary of the SACP Mokopane South, member of PEC, and Provincial Treasurer of the SACP.
Panyaza Lesufi made it as Gauteng Premier for the second time and in the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane retained his position while Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae surprised many when she defeated the current ANC provincial chairperson Mxolisi Dukwana for the Free State Premiership.
Letsoha-Mathae was MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport in the Free State where the ANC secured 51.87% of the votes with 16 seats in the legislature.
In the North West, the provincial deputy chairperson, Lazarus Mokgosi who was the Chief Whip before being appointed MEC for Social Development in 2022 is now the preferred Premier candidate. Mokgosi was nominated together with ANC PEC member Lizzy Mokua and the Speaker of North West Provincial Legislature Sussana Dantjie.
Mokgosi received a major boost when the party chairperson Premier Nono Maloyi didn’t make himself available for the position.
ANC Mpumalanga Chairperson Mandla Ndlovu has become the successful Premier candidate defeating current Premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane.
Ndlovu, a teacher by training, was appointed MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport in October 2022. He previously served as the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs from May 2022 until October 2022.
Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul will be returning to lead the province where the ANC received 49.34% and will govern through a coalition.
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