NORTH West premier Thandi Modise is at loggerheads with the provincial ANC, which is unhappy because she appointed several heads of department despite being instructed not to do so.
ANC North West insiders said Modise had been ordered by the provincial executive not to renew the contracts of senior officials or make new appointments. This was to enablethe new administration thatwill take office after the elections - including possibly a new premier - to make its own appointments.
Modise, however, went ahead and appointed new heads to the provincial departments of education, public works, transport, finance, and economic development and tourism.
This is said to have angered a number of senior ANC officials, including provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo, who is vying for the premiership.
"She defied the ANC [provincial executive] because they wanted her to hold off on making appointments until after the elections. Now the new premier who comes in will be stuck with her appointees for the next couple of years," said a source in North West executive, who asked not to be named.
Modise was ousted as deputy secretary-general of the ANC in 2012. Since then, she has had to battle a hostile provincial ANC.
Her spokesman, Lesiba Kgwele, denied that she had defied the provincial ANC, blaming unnamed individuals for tarnishing her name.
"The tension between the premier and the ANC is, in our view, caused by short-sighted, irresponsible individuals with vested personal interests that they are putting above those of communities or the ANC."
He said Modise was always available to account to the ANC whenever the provincial executive required it.
ANC North West spokesman Ismail Mnisi said the discussions and decisions of the provincial executive were internal matters.
He said the ANC's relations with those it deployed remained "frank and cordial".
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