The ANC national leadership has endorsed Mxolisi Dukwana as the party’s preferred candidate for the position of premier of the Free State province.
He is now all set to take over from Sisi Ntombela, who was forced to step down this week after suffering a massive political setback.
After interviewing three candidates to fill up the post on Tuesday, the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) settled for Dukwana – recently elected the party’s chairperson in the Free State – as the most suitable for the job.
The other two in consideration for the top office were Ketso Makume and Dibolelo Mahlatsi, the party’s provincial deputy chairperson and deputy secretary respectively.
“Based on these interviews, the national officials are of the view that all three candidates are of a very high calibre and have the potential to play meaningful roles as deployees in a number of spheres of government,” ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said in correspondence to ANC Free State provincial secretary Polediso Motsoeneng seen by The Free Stater.
“In the current conjuncture, given his experience and the challenges faced by the Free State, the national officials are of the view that Comrade Mxolisi Dukwana is the preferred ANC candidate for the position of premier of the Free State.”
Dukwana is expected to be elected and sworn in as premier at a special sitting of the provincial legislature on Thursday.
Ntombela’s decision to quit 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.
Ntombela became the sixth premier of the Free State after she took over from Ace Magashule in 2018. – Staff Reporter