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Is Former Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau heading for a senior position in Prime Minister David Makhura’s cabinet?
Reliable sources in the ANC and the government say Tau could be announced as a MEC when Makhura makes an announcement to replace the fired health MEC Bandile Masuku on Wednesday.
Insiders say the ANC has asked five members of the Gauteng provincial legislature to consider resigning to make way for Tau, who is the deputy minister for cooperative governance and traditional affairs and also serves as ANC Gauteng treasurer.
According to sources with intimate knowledge of the situation, Tau is expected to replace the former MEC Bandile Masuku. Insiders have told TimesLIVE that Thulani Ndlovu and four others were asked to consider resigning ahead of Wednesday’s announcement of the new health MEC.
“Five MPLs have been asked if they will be willing (to resign) not just Thulani,” said an ANC source. “Yes, it is a consideration but not the only option.”
The insider said the discussions were still ongoing and that Tau would resign as deputy minister as soon as “they finally agree.”
The ANC Youth League in the province has reacted angrily to speculation about Tau’s deployment in the Gauteng government. The league said this was a slight to young leaders.
“ANCYL in Gauteng has learned to their great surprise that the body of elders is pressuring a young MPL to resign and be replaced by an elder in the legislature.
“The ANCYL in the province worked tirelessly with various branches of the ANC and fought hard to ensure that the few young activists we have in the legislature are nominated. Therefore, ANCYL will not sit quietly while the body of elders tries to reverse our collective achievements … Young people in the legislature will not become sacrificial lambs or door openers for recycling the elderly. Worse for the people who presided over the loss of the province’s economic center, ”reads the statement issued by spokesperson Nkosana Mtolo.
TimesLIVE understands that league leaders expected their provincial president, Matome Chiloane, to be considered for the MEC job.
Makhura fired Masuku in October on allegations of corruption in the acquisition of Covid-19 personal protective equipment in his department. Although no actual corruption was found in relation to Masuku, it was said that he did not implement adequate oversight of the controversial PPE tenders.
However, another insider said that Tau is most likely designated for another portfolio and not health, which is being highly controversial. Gauteng MEC for Cogta, Lebogang Maile and MEC for finance, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, have shown interest in the health portfolio, according to the source.
“They will probably take him to finance or economic development because people like Maile and Nomantu want that position. [health]. It’s a big portfolio and there is money, ”said a source, who wanted to be named.
Makhura and the top five ANC officials are said to meet to discuss Masuku’s replacement.
TimesLIVE
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