Re-elected Vhembe ANC regional chairperson Tshitekere Matibe says he and his new top five officials are elated after ascending to power unopposed.
Speaking to African Times hours after securing a fourth term at the elective conference currently taking place at the Kalahari Water Front in Thohoyandou, Matibe said his challenger, Simon Mavikane, dropped out of the race on the eve of the conference possibly because he realised he had no support.
The Limpopo Economic Development and Tourism MEC says he is not overwhelmed by any emotion because he has won the same contest three times before.
On Monday night, May 4, Matibe and members of his slate were elected unopposed as the new top five ANC officials in the region.
“As a collective view, we feel elated for the collective that has emerged, and we are still awaiting the collective executive regional committee that will be elected when they finalize the additional members,” Matibe said.
He said his challenger might have dropped out of the race out of fear of a humiliating defeat.
“We were not having contests. I don’t speak for them; you must ask them. They know why they could not contest. If you were to calculate the remainder of the delegates that were left that could not register, you could see [that] they might have seen that they don’t have numbers that can allow them to contest the conference. They did not want to humiliate themselves, but I must say I don’t know the reason they did not contest,” Matibe reacted to his latest victory.
He said he is not overwhelmed by any emotion because he has won the same contest three times before.
“If you are winning something for the fourth time, do you think you can have feelings? It is like you have been there, so the feeling can’t be like it is a new thing. I was going to be different for someone who would be doing it for the first time, but otherwise I can’t say I have feelings for myself,” he added.
Miyelani Chauke has been elected deputy chairperson, Matodzi Ralushai is the new regional secretary, and Makhado Local Municipality Mayor Dorcus Mboyi was elected deputy secretary. Musina Local Municipality Chief Whip Fistos Mafela was elected treasurer. All of them were elected unopposed.
ANC Limpopo has since welcomed the outcome of the Vhembe Regional Conference.
ANC Provincial Spokesperson Mathole Jimmy Machaka said, “We congratulate Comrade Tshitereke Matibe on his election as the chairperson of the region, Comrade Miyelani Chauke as the deputy chairperson, Comrade Matodzi Ralushai as the regional secretary, Comrade Dorcus Mboyi as the deputy secretary, and Comrade Fistos Mafela as regional treasurer. As the provincial executive committee, we are offering them support during their term of office. We want to thank all delegates for the highest level of discipline throughout the conference.”
After campaigning for the chairperson’s position before the conference, Mavikane withdrew his challenge shortly before it started. This was after the High Court in Watervaal dismissed his legal attempts to stop the conference.
