ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile has been given the responsibility to hold the fort and oversee the functioning of the ANC secretary-general office while acting Secretary General Jessie Duarte is on sick leave.
This comes after she was admitted to hospital for gastrointestinal complications in December last year.
The announcement was made by Luthuli House on Tuesday after a meeting of its national working committee (NWC) on Monday.
“The African National Congress National Working Committee, at its regular session on Monday, 17 January 2022, reiterated its best wishes for a speedy recovery to Deputy Secretary General, comrade Jessie Duarte, who has been on sick leave since November 2021,” said ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe.
“It also expressed its solidarity with her family and loved ones as they support her during this difficult time. The National Officials have requested the Treasurer General, Comrade Paul Mashatile, to assist her in the execution of duties of the Secretary General’s Office.”
Duarte has been visibly absent from engagements, including the governing party’s January 8 birthday celebrations in Limpopo earlier this month.
“The NWC wishes DSG Jessie Duarte strength, and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family on her road to recovery,” Mabe said.
During the NWC, the ANC said it has also finalised preparations for a regular two day sitting of the National Executive Committee to be held between Thursday and Friday.
This will be followed by the NEC Lekgotla at the weekend.
“These sessions of the NEC will finalise plans for 2022, based on the priorities and tasks set out in the ANC January 8 statement.”
- Inside Politics
