Yolande Nel
As all hell broke loose at national level about ANC Youth League (Ancyl) President Julius Malema’s assets and lavish lifestyle this week, anger over alleged tender rigging is turning ugly back home with much tension directed at Malema ally Jacob Lebogo.
While Malema was battling to defend himself after reports on his alleged involvement in large tenders in Limpopo early this week, explicit video footage of what happened at a past Seshego party - apparently organised by Lebogo - showed that the fight has now turned personal against the Malema inner circle. With this evidence of assumed un-cultural behaviour having surfaced in the public domain, dirty laundry is out in the open and rumours of alleged tender rigging within different provincial departments are common in the political arena.
Lebogo, who is running for provincial secretary of the Ancyl during the next conference of the structure scheduled for April this year, is labelled an individual who lives an extraordinary lifestyle. It is further alleged that he is suspected of buying votes to land the position on the provincial executive of the Youth League in order to secure power to influence future tender processes.
A mass of entrepreneurs loyal to the ruling party gathered in Polokwane on Monday afternoon to voice their dismay over tenders being distributed unevenly and to plot the way forward. They are planning to take to the streets in a march on Premier’s Office Mowaneng – which is regarded an unprecedented move - Friday.
What has unfolded in Limpopo is not the usual fight between the factions in the ruling party. It is a war that has seen former Malema backers turning against his inner circle of confidantes. But mostly it is an extension of a battle that has previously demonstrated the divide between the big Ms: Malema, Premier Cassel Mathale, ANC Provincial Secretary Joe Maswanganyi, Ancyl Provincial Chairperson Lehlogonolo Masoga and Education MEC Dickson Masemola, who is the ANC Deputy Provincial Chair. Ironically it was also the same band of brothers who supported President Jacob Zuma in 2007 when Polokwane was the stage for the national conference of the ANC.
Approached for comment Lebogo said "Reality is we are not involved in those processes". He referred to a media briefing of the Ancyl Regional Executives in Polokwane on Tuesday, where the structure said government has procurement processes and procedures. "All those interested are encouraged to register their companies on government databases and follow the necessary procedures. The ANC and Ancyl have got nothing to do with the awarding of tenders."
According to him no secretary of the youth league could influence tender processes or related activities. "These things are raised because of the conference to mobilise young people against their own leadership through propaganda and lies."
To the issue of visual recordings of parties in Seshego doing the rounds, Lebogo responded by saying that "Those things will never happen. We are not irresponsible to that level."