The political landscape in Gauteng is facing unprecedented upheaval as internal factions within the African National Congress (ANC) appear to collude with the Democratic Alliance (DA) to undermine the authority of Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
This unlikely alliance is not only raising eyebrows but is also propelling Gauteng ANC deputy chairperson and Health MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, into the spotlight, where her leadership is now being rigorously scrutinised.
Recent allegations made by Hellen Zille, the DA’s federal chairperson, have intensified the political pressure, claiming that Lesufi has systematically undermined the national ANC leadership by facilitating the removal of the DA from Tshwane.
This perceived political manoeuvring has flipped the script in Gauteng, igniting a storm of discontent that envelops both Nkomo-Ralehoko and Lesufi.
A source within the provincial ANC, who chose to remain anonymous, revealed that dissenting factions believe Nkomo-Ralehoko should not have been reappointed for another term, indicating a growing rift within the party.
“Some comrades are in cahoots with the DA and want to destabilise the leadership in the province, particularly Lesufi and his deputy Nomantu,” the source explained, adding that personal attacks against Nkomo-Ralehoko are anticipated as this political drama unfolds.
The situation is compounded by discontent among party members regarding Nkomo-Ralehoko’s leadership style, with criticisms aimed at her management of staff morale and her alleged inclination to overlook local businesses in favour of suppliers from Limpopo.
“I can’t remember the last time she increased nurses’ salaries and other officials,” lamented another anonymous source.
Amid escalating tensions, Lesufi has publicly reiterated his unwavering support for Nkomo-Ralehoko, suggesting that her resignation is not a near-future possibility.
Nkomo-Ralehoko has proactively sought to defuse the urgency of this criticism, highlighting the significant strides made in healthcare since her appointment.
“We have seen remarkable progress in healthcare access and patient care services since I took on this role,” she insisted, focused on her contributions to the Gauteng healthcare landscape.
In outlining the department’s achievements, she pointed to a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery, a crucial aspiration for a population now estimated at over 16 million according to Statistics South Africa.
“Contractors have been appointed, and construction is under way, with multiple projects already completed,” she detailed, emphasising the introduction of three new wards at Mamelodi Regional Hospital and the ongoing renovations of existing facilities.
The Health MEC further discussed plans to address regional disparities in healthcare access through the proposed construction of four new hospitals in Daveyton, Orange Farm, Diepsloot, and Soshanguve — a much-needed initiative to bridge the existing healthcare gap in these underserved areas.
“We recognise the urgency and necessity to implement interventions that will see the construction of new hospitals and upgrading of current facilities,” she affirmed.
In response to the rumblings of discontent among her critics, Nkomo-Ralehoko urged calm, insisting that her focus remains steadfast on delivering high-quality healthcare to the people of Gauteng, particularly as the province anticipates the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) in the near future.
Addressing specific allegations regarding staff promotions, she clarified her non-involvement in human resources matters, stating that the hiring of personnel falls under the purview of the hospital CEOs and their HR teams.
Nkomo-Ralehoko also defended her meetings with private health practitioners, underscoring the collaborative efforts needed to realise the NHI.
“There is nothing untoward about the collaboration between government and private health care services,” she said.
DA’s provincial leader Solly Msimanga dismissed the allegations that his party was working with some ANC members to undermine Lesufi’s government.
“Look, you can’t be working with any the ANC, because it has been proven that engaging with the ANC is just a fruitless exercise, especially in the province (Gauteng).
“We are in fact going to have our own campaign against Panyaza as we are not happy with the performance of the government,” Msimanga concluded.
He further said the party would have a media conference on Tuesday detailing all aspects.
Lesufi did not respond to questions sent to him via WhatsApp by the time of print.
The Star
sipho.jack@inl.co.za