Mbombela (Formerly Nelspruit) – African National Congress (ANC) cadre, Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, will have to beat two other contestants from her party if she is to keep her job.
The development comes after the ANC retained administration control of Mpumalanga after the 2024 national and provincial elections.
The ANC won 51% of the vote in the province – a reduction in support when compared to the 2019 election.
Mtshweni-Tsipane, who hails from the Nkangala District, is the first woman to lead the province as premier.
This time around, Mtshweni-Tsipane contests for the premier position against two others including her political head – ANC provincial chairperson, Mandla Ndlovu, the Mpumalanga MEC for Public Works Roads and Transport.
Ndlovu is from the province’s Ehlanzeni District.
Cathy Dlamini from Ehlanzeni District is the third contender for the premier position.
Incumbent Premier Mtshweni-Tsipane took over the reins in Mpumalanga from ANC heavyweight David Mabuza, affectionately known as “DD” or “The Cat” when he was made deputy president of the country.
At the time, Mabuza was also ANC deputy president. However, he resigned from both positions in December 2022.
In a statement directed at COSATU, SACP, and other aligned structures in the province, ANC electoral committee chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe revealed the names of the three candidates.
“After careful consideration of the report from the extended PEC as submitted by the provincial secretary, we wish to confirm that compliance with Rule 10.3 has been achieved and the three candidates to be interviewed by the national officials are as follows – Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, Mandla Ndlovu and Cathy Dlamini,” said the statement.
In the past, Mtshweni-Tsipane has tried to wrestle control of the ANC in the province from party Chairman Ndlovu with no success.
As a result, the province has endured the proverbial “two centres of power”.
