Limpopo premier resigns

Jul 15, 2013

"This is in line with the decision of the African National Congress to recall me as the premier of Limpopo province."

Picture taken from www.ewn.co.za

Limpopo premier Cassel Mathale has resigned, he said in a statement on Monday.
"This is to inform the public that I have handed a letter of resignation as the premier of Limpopo provincial government and as a member of the provincial legislature to the speaker.
"This is in line with the decision of the African National Congress to recall me as the premier of Limpopo province."
"As a loyal and disciplined member of the [ANC] for more than 30 years I have since complied with the decision."
Mathale said his "redeployment" was consistent with the ANC's culture and tradition. He was appointed premier on May 9, 2009.
He listed achievements during his term of office, which included improving the matric pass rate, building 63,123 houses and 15 bridges, providing 1.2 million households with water and electricity, and expanding access to antiretroviral treatment for people with HIV/Aids.
He acknowledged there were still problems, but did not mention that in December 2011 five provincial government departments were placed under administration because of allegations of corruption and gross violation of the Public Finance Management Act. He also did not mention the scandal in 2012 when it was found that textbooks for certain grades had not been delivered to schools.
Mathale was removed as ANC provincial chairman in April when the party's national executive committee decided to disband the provincial executive committee.
It did so because of "un-ANC behaviour and institutionalised factional conduct". It was replaced by an ANC provincial task team.
Mathale said in his statement that contrary to perceptions, he and the provincial government had acted against corruption and had not interfered with investigations.
"At no stage have we attempted to derail or delay any process of investigation or disciplining any irregular conduct," he said.
"Under all material conditions we have never sought to channel or redirect state resources to pursue any agenda except the noble course of realising the pledges made to our people.
"Therefore, I also leave the office of the premier with my conscience clean that I have never done anything unlawful and un-ANC... Thank you and goodbye."