A BLOODY confrontation at the weekend in Mpumalanga between supporters of Premier David Mabuza and those of his senior in the African National Congress (ANC), Mathews Phosa, has heightened political rivalry in the province.
On Sunday, in Kanyamazane township, ANC members supporting Mr Mabuza attacked a meeting of the South African Communist Party (SACP) that was scheduled to be addressed by Mr Phosa, prompting calls on Monday for Mr Mabuza to be removed as the premier and provincial chairman of the ANC.
The police intervened to break up the violence as members of the two allied political parties hit each other with fists, stones, iron rods, sticks and knobkerries.
Scores of injured were treated at a local clinic.
The Young Communist League (YCL) in Mpumalanga on Monday cited as a reason for Mr Mabuza’s removal the contents of a "top secret" document that Mr Phosa, last September, handed to the ANC’s top six officials, including President Jacob Zuma. It contained allegations that Mr Mabuza had shared information with the apartheid security forces on the activities of ANC leaders between 1985 and 1993.
YCL secretary Mandla Tibane said the attack on SACP members was similar to "apartheid terror tendencies".
"We are now convinced that former apartheid spies who worship anarchy, masterminding patronage and trained to be anti-communist, are in full operation in the province," Mr Tibane said.
Mr Mabuza should leave office "until such time as his name is cleared from the allegations of being a former apartheid spy".
Last November Beeld newspaper reported that Mr Mabuza had threatened to sue Mr Phosa and had asked Mr Zuma to investigate the allegations. Those close to Mr Phosa said on Monday he had yet to receive a summons.
Mr Mabuza found himself on the back foot last week when a Mpumalanga newspaper published allegations on Friday implicating him in criminal conduct.
Business Day has seen copies of two affidavits alleging Mr Mabuza masterminded the theft in 2010 of documents and a laptop belonging to the deceased "Mpumalanga hit list" whistle-blower and controversial politician James Nkambule.
The deponents, Murrel Zitha and Sibusiso Shakwane — former colleagues of Mr Nkambule in the Congress of the People — were arrested in 2010 for the theft of properties belonging to Mr Nkambule.
Mr Nkambule was allegedly poisoned before he could testify about his claims of a political hit list in Mpumalanga, and the work of a Mozambican hitman called "Josh".
A former Mpumalanga government official mentioned in a police affidavit told Business Day on Monday he was "ready to testify in court" against Mr Mabuza.
The official preferred not to be named out of fear for his safety and in anticipation that the matter would end up in court.
Mr Mabuza said on Monday, through his spokesman, Zibonele Mncwango, that he "encouraged anybody with information to bring it forward to the police or approach any court of law".
He said he had evidence that "there is a force conspiring against him" and "the character of this force is merely of a group of despondent and bitter people who are pursuing a personal vendetta".
Tensions run high between ANC and SACP members at a police station near to a community hall in Kanyamazane, Mpumalanga, where ANC members disrupted an SACP event. Picture: SETUMO STONE
A BLOODY confrontation at the weekend in Mpumalanga between supporters of Premier David Mabuza and those of his senior in the African National Congress (ANC), Mathews Phosa, has heightened political rivalry in the province.
On Sunday, in Kanyamazane township, ANC members supporting Mr Mabuza attacked a meeting of the South African Communist Party (SACP) that was scheduled to be addressed by Mr Phosa, prompting calls on Monday for Mr Mabuza to be removed as the premier and provincial chairman of the ANC.
The police intervened to break up the violence as members of the two allied political parties hit each other with fists, stones, iron rods, sticks and knobkerries.
Scores of injured were treated at a local clinic.
The Young Communist League (YCL) in Mpumalanga on Monday cited as a reason for Mr Mabuza’s removal the contents of a "top secret" document that Mr Phosa, last September, handed to the ANC’s top six officials, including President Jacob Zuma. It contained allegations that Mr Mabuza had shared information with the apartheid security forces on the activities of ANC leaders between 1985 and 1993.
YCL secretary Mandla Tibane said the attack on SACP members was similar to "apartheid terror tendencies".
"We are now convinced that former apartheid spies who worship anarchy, masterminding patronage and trained to be anti-communist, are in full operation in the province," Mr Tibane said.
Mr Mabuza should leave office "until such time as his name is cleared from the allegations of being a former apartheid spy".
Last November Beeld newspaper reported that Mr Mabuza had threatened to sue Mr Phosa and had asked Mr Zuma to investigate the allegations. Those close to Mr Phosa said on Monday he had yet to receive a summons.
Mr Mabuza found himself on the back foot last week when a Mpumalanga newspaper published allegations on Friday implicating him in criminal conduct.
Business Day has seen copies of two affidavits alleging Mr Mabuza masterminded the theft in 2010 of documents and a laptop belonging to the deceased "Mpumalanga hit list" whistle-blower and controversial politician James Nkambule.
The deponents, Murrel Zitha and Sibusiso Shakwane — former colleagues of Mr Nkambule in the Congress of the People — were arrested in 2010 for the theft of properties belonging to Mr Nkambule.
Mr Nkambule was allegedly poisoned before he could testify about his claims of a political hit list in Mpumalanga, and the work of a Mozambican hitman called "Josh".
A former Mpumalanga government official mentioned in a police affidavit told Business Day on Monday he was "ready to testify in court" against Mr Mabuza.
The official preferred not to be named out of fear for his safety and in anticipation that the matter would end up in court.
Mr Mabuza said on Monday, through his spokesman, Zibonele Mncwango, that he "encouraged anybody with information to bring it forward to the police or approach any court of law".
He said he had evidence that "there is a force conspiring against him" and "the character of this force is merely of a group of despondent and bitter people who are pursuing a personal vendetta".
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