The Free State will have a new premier by the end of this week after the incumbent, Sisi Ntombela, resigned on Tuesday.
Mxolisi Dukwana is the hot favourite to replace her.
Ntombela’s decision to quit as premier and a member of the provincial legislature did not come as a surprise.
Her future has been hanging in the balance since she lost to Dukwana in the race for the ANC Free State chairperson’s position last month.
The party’s provincial spokesperson, Jabu Mbalula, said a new premier will be announced by Friday.
“By the end of this week we should have everything confirmed, but at the moment I’m unable to pre-empt anything as we have to wait for the processes to be concluded and put all the speculation to rest,” he told The Free Stater.
The ANC Free State has submitted the names of newly elected provincial chairperson Dukwana, his deputy Ketso Makume and provincial deputy secretary Dibolelo Mahlatsi to the party’s national executive committee for consideration for the premiership.
Ntombela became the sixth premier of the Free State after she took over from Ace Magashule in 2018. – Staff Reporter