The province is the only ANC province without a premier candidate, while the rest of the provinces, including the Free State, Northern Cape and Gauteng, have named their premier candidates. On Monday the ANC Secretary-General, Ace Magashule, announced that the province will have to wait a little longer until an internal process, currently underway to find a solution with issues within the party, is resolved. The province has had to deal with rife infighting and factions following the disbandment of the provincial executive committee led by Supra Mahumapelo, who also retired from his position as premier. Meanwhile, a political analyst, Ongama Mtimka, says he does not foresee a sound solution with Mahumapelo being part of the process.

The ANC has established the Provincial Task Team (PTT) but it was successfully challenged with a back-to-back victory against the party in the South Gauteng High Court by Mahumapelo and his entourage last year. The ANC has since snubbed the court’s decision to reinstate Mahumapelo. Instead, the new Provincial Task Team (PTT) was established with the current Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane, as the coordinator. The party has further tried to appease the outspoken Mahumapelo with a seat in parliament, with many predicting that he could become a minister.

Over the weekend, Mahumapelo was quoted by the media saying he’d rather be an entrepreneur than take up a parliamentary position. Mahumapelo has been at loggerheads with the party over several issues since he took early retirement from the Office of the Premier.

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