The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the Free State says appointing Jabu Mbalula as acting premier is an insult to the people of the province.
Jabu, the brother of African National Congress (ANC) secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, was sworn in on Thursday, 14 November. He will be acting premier until 15 December, while corruption-accused premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae is on special leave.
EFF IN FREE STATE REJECTS JABU MBALULA’S APPOINTMENT
In an internal memo, Letsoha-Mathae asked the executive council to support Mbalula.
“I have appointed Mr. J Mbalula as acting premier for the Free State province for the period 15 November 2024 to 15 December 2024. Kindly provide him with full co-operation and support,” she said.
Reacting to the appointment, the EFF said Letsoha-Mathae had used the special leave as a loophole to ensure that she does not step down from office but retains her position while facing her corruption charges.
The party said if anything, this clearly indicates the failure and inability to adopt and apply the step aside policy.
The step aside rule was adopted at the ANC’s national conference in 2017 where criminally-charged leaders must voluntarily step aside and those that alleged, reported and accused of corruption face the integrity committee.
ACTING PREMIER WAS ALLEGEDLY A GHOST WORKER
Regarding Jabu Mbalula’s appointment, the EFF said Mathae’s decision comes as scratching the back of Fikile Mbalula for installing her as premier over ANC chairperson in the province Mxolisi Dukwana.
“Jabu Mbalula was at the heart of corruption and wasteful expenditure in the financially distressed Mangaung Metro Municipality. To pick him as acting premier is an insult to the people of the Free State,” the party said.
In 2022, an investigative report into the illegal appointment of staffers in the Mangaung Metro Municipality exposed Jabu Mbalula as one of the ghost staffers who allegedly cost the council millions in salaries every month while never reporting for a single day of work.
The Citizen reported that most ANC cadre deployments occurred after the 2021 local government elections when individuals identified as “skeletal staff” were signed up, often without appointment letters or contracts, violating the Municipal Systems Act.
According to the report, the ghost workers received a total of R2.5 million in salaries in January alone. In March, the salary bill shot up to R9 million as the number of hired staffers increased from 125 to 165.
DO YOU SUPPORT THE DECISION TO APPOINT JABU MBALULA AS ACTING PREMIER OF FREE STATE?
Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing info@thesouthafrican.com or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.
