ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANC CANDIDATE PREMIERS, 23 April 1999

ANNOUNCEMENT OF ANC CANDIDATE PREMIERS

23 April 1999

At a press briefing at the ANC headquarters, Luthuli House in Johannesburg, the

movement’s Secretary General, Kgalema Motlanthe, acting for ANC President Thabo Mbeki

announced the Candidate Premiers for the coming elections. The National Executive

Committee last year decided that Premiers, like national Ministers will be appointed by

the President.

The Candidate Premiers for the nine provinces are:-

1. Gauteng: Mbhazima Sam Shilowa
2. N Cape: Manne Dipico
3. Northwest: Popo Molefe
4. Freestate: Winkie Direko
5. E Cape: Makhenkesi Stofile
6. N. Province: Ngoako Ramatlodi
7. Mpumalanga: Nndaweni J. Mahlangu
8. KwaZulu/Natal: Sibusiso Ndebele
9. W Cape: Ebrahim Rasool

PROFILE OF MANNE DIPICO

ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER OF THE NORTHERN CAPE

Born in Greenpoint Location, Kimberley in 1959, Manne Emsley Dipico matriculated at St

Boniface High, and studied towards a BA (Personnel Management) at Fort Hare. Manne began

his working life at De Beer’s Finsch Mine, and was later employed by the National

Union of Mineworkers as Organiser and later as Education co-ordinator.

Manne has come through the ranks of the ANC, first joining the Eastern Cape underground

structures of the movement in the 1980s. An executive member of the Azanian Students’

Organisation while at Fort Hare, Manne became a regional executive member of the UDF in

the Northern Cape. As part of the general repression of the leadership of the UDF, he was

detained under the State of Emergency and sentenced to five years imprisonment for

Terrorism in 1987.

Manne was elected Regional Secretary for the Northern Cape ANC in 1991, becoming

chairperson of the province in 1994 and thereby serving ex-officio on the National

Executive Committee. He was the Elections Co-ordinator of the ANC for the 1994 Elections

in the N Cape.

With the election victory of the ANC in 1994, Manne became the Premier of the Northern

Cape. In the five succeeding years he has successfully united the new province, building

up an effective administration and executive council.

Elected to the National Executive Committee in 1997, Manne lives in Kimberley with his

family.

STATEMENT OF CANDIDATE PREMIER FOR THE N CAPE,

MANNE DIPECO

The singular honour bestowed on me by the ANC in appointing me as Candidate Premier for

the Northern Cape is both humbling and a source of pride.

In my past five years as Premier of the Northern Cape, I have endeavoured to serve the

South African people, my organisation and my country, to the best of my ability. I have

tried to make a difference to the lives of people.

In meeting the responsibilities of building a new province, every effort has been made

to uphold the integrity of the ANC.

South Africa’s first democratic government has, in five short years, done a

remarkable job. As candidate premier for the Northern Cape I pledge to spare no effort in

working for a decisive victory for the ANC.

The challenges ahead are great indeed, and much still remains to be done. Working

together as South Africans we can build the country of our dreams. I commit myself

unreservedly to this task.

PROFILE OF ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER OF MPUMALANGA

NJ MAHLANGU

Ndaweni Johannes Mahlangu was born on 26 May 1948 in Middleburg, Mpumalanga. He

completed his schooling at the Botshabelo Training Institution in the Middbleburg district

and later went on to obtain his B. Iuris with Unisa.

NJ started his working life as prosecutor, and rose to become head of a magisterial

court division. This took place at the height of discrimination against black legal

professionals. He resisted the notion that black magistrates could not preside over white

litigants, eventually forcing the regime to abolish this restriction on black magistrates.

Based in the former homeland of Kwandebele, NJ played a leading role in mobilizing the

massive resistance against independence from 1980 to 1986. As a result of his role in

these struggles, he was detained under the State of Emergency until the end of 1987.

Subsequently he served in the then Kwandebele government alternately as Minister of

Justice and Education. As Minister for Education, he went against the trend and recognized

SADTU.

NJ Mahlangu formed part of the CODESA negotiations team, helping to forge the Patriotic

Front.

NJ was elected as a member of the National Assembly in 1994. During his term as Member

of Parliament, he served on the portfolio committees on Justice and Minerals and Energy.

During the Constituent Assembly process to draft the Constitution, he assisted in drafting

the sections dealing with the Character of the Democratic State.

NJ Mahlangu’s participation in constitutional and judicial matters also saw his

appointment by Parliament to the Constitutional Review Committee. He is also a member of

the Judicial Services Commission, the body responsible for ensuring transformation of the

judiciary and ensuring that judges and magistrates are more representative of the entire

population.

STATEMENT BY ANC PREMIER CANDIDATE FOR MPUMALANGA,

NJ MAHLANGU

The challenges of development and reconstruction in Mpumalanga present great

opportunities. In humbly accepting the nomination by cde President Thabo Mbeki as

candidate premier for the province, I undertake to work with all comrades in the province

towards ensuring that Mpumalanga continues to go from strength to strength.

The solid foundation laid by cde Matthews Phosa to integrate the old homelands into a

single united province and the initiatives of the national government with the Maputo

Corridor are just two examples of the work I will do my best to carry forward.

I am committed to working together with all components of the Alliance and the people

of the province, to ensure that we fulfill the mission of bringing about a better life and

confront the key challenges of ending corruption and building a clean administration in

the service of the people.

I undertake to ensure a close working relationship between the movement and government,

by building on the close working relationship with ANC Chairperson, Matthews Phosa.

PROFILE OF MBHAZIMA SAMUEL SHILOWA

ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER FOR GAUTENG PROVINCE

Mbhazima Samuel Shilowa was born on 30 April 1958 at Olifantshoek, a village in the

Northern Province. The youngest of the late Ndhuma and Anna Shilowa’s seven children,

Mbhazima attended school at Khamanyani Lower Primary School, Muhunguti Higher Primary

School, Kulani Higher Primary School and Akani High School

He came to Johannesburg to seek employment in 1979, working at, John Weinberg Hardware

in Germiston, Anglo Alpha Cement in Roodepoort and PSG Services in Johannesburg, while

staying in Dobsonville.

Mbhazima joined the trade union movement in 1981, became a Shopsteward at Anglo Alpha

and PSG Services, Deputy Chairperson of COSATU Gauteng (formally Wits Region), he was

elected Vice President and later President of the Transport and General Workers Union. In

1991 he was elected the Deputy General Secretary, and in 1993 elected General Secretary of

COSATU, a position held to date.

In addition to his responsibilities in the trade union movement, Mbhazima was an

integral part of the MDM prior to the unbanning of the ANC. After 1990 he was part of the

Interim Leadership Group in Gauteng that helped establish the first legal organisational

structures of the Alliance.

Mbhazima was elected a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC in 1997.

He has been a CC member of the SACP since 1991. He represented both organisations at

different times in the National Peace Structures and CODESA negotiations.

As General Secretary of COSATU, Mbhazima has played a key role in Nedlac, engaging

extensively with both business and government in determining strategies and practical

options for developing South Africa. Prior to that he had (as part of the COSATU

leadership), extensively engaged with the business community in the CBM and Sacolla as

part of an attempt to reduce conflict on the shopfloor and thereby contribute to stable

industrial relations. An experienced and skilled negotiator, Mbhazima has written

extensively on matters affecting transformation.

In January this year, Mbhazima and Leslie Boyd led a joint delegation of COSATU and

organised business respectively to look at how Holland and Ireland helped solve their

unemployment problems.

He is married to Wendy Shilowa. Together they have two sons - Lumko and Mervyn.

Extremely close to his mother, Mbhazima has maintained constant links with the Northern

Province.

STATEMENT OF MBHAZIMA SHILOWA

ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER OF GAUTENG PROVINCE

I feel deeply honoured and privileged to have been appointed by ANC President Thabo

Mbeki to be the Candidate Premier in Gauteng.

I am aware of the magnitude of the task at hand, particularly given the fact that

Gauteng is the economic heartland of South Africa.

The key challenges, based on the ANC manifesto and programme, will be to work on our

programme for job creation, infrastructure investment and economic growth and development.

In conjunction with the national government we will also focus on how to tackle crime in

our province.

Above all, we need to consolidate our democracy by uniting all citizens - black and

white - behind the ANC programme to bring accelerated change and a better life for all.

I commit myself to work closely with all the structures of the movement, building on

the firm foundation laid by both Tokyo Sexwale and Mathole Motshekga, and enhancing the

unity of our organisation.

I also intend to use the relationship build over may years with the business community,

workers and the broader community to take Gauteng to even higher levels.

I undertake to uphold the integrity of the ANC in service to all our people and ensure

that an effective, clean administration capable of undertaking the key tasks ahead is

strengthened.

I commit myself to work tirelessly for a decisive victory for the ANC.

As Candidate Premier, I look forward to a close and co-operative working relationship

between the ANC and government, building a solid partnership with the ANC Chairperson

Mathole Motshekga.

PROFILE OF MA STOFILE

ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER FOR THE EASTERN CAPE

Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile was born on 27 December 1944 in Adelaide in the Eastern Cape.

Matriculating from Newell High in Port Elizabeth in 1964, he then went on to study at Fort

Hare University.

Stof, as he is affectionately known to his comrades and friends, completed his Masters

in Theology in 1979. He completed a post-graduate diploma in theology in Germany and a

second masters at Princeton University.

Makhenkesi became a senior lecturer in theology at Fort Hare for 13 years and since

1975 has been a Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa. He lectured at the

University of Transkei and again at Fort Hare as the Director of Public Relations and

Development.

Throughout his schooling and academic life, Makhenkesi remained ever committed to sport

and in particular his love for rugby. He served as a provincial and national sports

administrator for over twenty years: in the Victoria East Rugby Union, the South Eastern

District Rugby Union, Victoria East Council of Sport, SARU, SACOS, the National Sports

Congress and SARFU.

It was through his fundamental belief in the equality of all humanity drawn from his

religious life that Makhenkesi joined the underground of the ANC and later became a

leading member of the UDF. In 1991, he was elected as a member of the NEC of the ANC,

becoming its Treasurer General in 1994.

After the first democratic election in 1994, Makhenkesi continued serving the people of

South Africa as the Chief Whip for the ANC in the National Assembly. When needed by his

organisation, Makhenkesi willingly returned to the Eastern Cape to serve as the Premier of

the Province.

Reverend Stofile is married to Nambita and the couple has three children.

STATEMENT BY MA STOFILE

CANDIDATE PREMIER OF THE EASTERN CAPE

I am truly humbled by my appointment as Premier Candidate of the Eastern Cape.

As premier of the province since 1997, I am honoured to be given the opportunity to

deliver a decisive victory for the ANC and continue the fight for change to make a better

life for the people of the Eastern Cape.

During my first term as premier, together with my comrades in the province and the

people of the Eastern Cape as a whole, we fought, against the odds, to integrate Homeland

and old South African administrations and change them from governments that serve the

interests of the minority into one that serves the majority. Our success in stabilising

the management of our finances and the eradication of ghost employees and pensioners, did

not come easily.

But change is beginning to happen in the Eastern Cape with hundreds of schools and over

100 new clinics built where none existed before. Hundreds of thousands more of our people

now have access to water, electricity and a secure roof over their heads on land that

belongs to them.

With loyalty and devotion the ANC in the Eastern Cape will work hard to ensure that our

children’s education gets better all the time; that our health services continuously

improve and that we tackle once and for all the scourge of joblessness in our province.

Our plans are in place to speed up the delivery of basic needs to all our people.

PROFILE OF NA RAMATHLODI

ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER FOR THE NORTHERN PROVINCE

Ngoako Abel Ramathlodi was born at the village Tauatswala in the then Northern

Transvaal on 21 August 1955.

After finishing high school, Ngoako enrolled at the University of the North in 1977

where he was a founder member and first chairperson of the University’s Arts and

Drama Association. He was also chairperson of the Central Cultural Committee which served

as the only voice of students following the banning of the SRC.

Ngoako helped to establish AZASO, which later became SASCO and was part of the

collective that formed COSAS.

Following pressure and pursuit by apartheid authorities, Ngoako was forced into exile

in 1980 where he joined the ANC’s Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). He later continued with his

studies where he completed an LLB at the National University of Lesotho. He was admitted

to the bar of Lesotho as an advocate.

During his time at the University, Ngoako continued his involvement in student

activities. He was the second secretary to the Committee for Action and Solidarity for

South African Students (CASSAS), uniting Southern African students against apartheid South

Africa. As President of the SRC in 1983 and 1984, he also served on the University

Council.

Between 1986 and 1988, Ngoako was in Zimbabwe where he was the Head of the ANC Regional

Political and Military Council. He was awarded a Masters Science Degree in International

Relations with merit by the University of Zimbabwe.

From 1988 to 1992, Ngoako was the political secretary and assistant to then ANC

President Oliver Tambo.

From 1991, Ngoako was Deputy Registrar at the University of the North. He was also

Executive Assistant to the Principal and Vice Chancellor.

In 1991, Ngoako was elected as Chairperson of the ANC in the Northern Province and as a

result also served as a member of the NEC. He was elected Premier of the Northern Province

in May 1994.

Advocate Ramathlodi is married to Ouma and they are blessed with two children – a

boy, Thapelo and a girl, Refentse.

STATEMENT BY ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER FOR THE

NORTHERN PROVINCE - NA RAMATLODI

I accept my appointment as Candidate Premier of the Northern Province with a sense of

profound gratitude and humility. The confidence that our Movement, the African National

Congress, has shown in me to be able to fulfill a second term as Premier is indeed

humbling.

I take this to be a daunting challenge to lead my Province through the path that is

still largely unbeaten.

I hope to have the opportunity to further to implement the plans that we have so

painstakingly put together over the past five years. Relying on the vast experience

amassed during the first term, it should be possible for us to increase the pace of

delivery in the Province.

I understand our mission is to ensure the provision of a better life for all our

people. This mission will be accomplished inspired by the spirit of the giants of our

Movement.

PROFILE OF ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER OF THE FREE STATE

WINKIE ISABELLA DIREKO

Winkie Isabela Direko was born in Botshabelo, Bloemfontein and went to school at the

Anglican Primary School and completed her matric at the Bantu High School in Dathu

township.

Whilst doing her teacher training at Modderpoort College, she started her involvement

in politics during the 40’s in the Youth League. She joined the ANC in the

Bloemfontein, taking part in the campaigns of the 1950’s. She was also a member of

the National Council of African Women.

After the banning of the ANC, she participated in the underground structures. In the

70’s, during student the uprisings, she was amongst those who provided support to

student’s detained. She initiated the NICRO Bloemfontein branch, as an initiative to

ensure that magistrates pay attention to the conditions of detainees. Through NICRO, she

helped to organise legal assistance to members of the community, for political and other

cases.

Throughout this period, into the 80’s she provided assistance to families to visit

their their loved ones on Robben Island working with the South African Council of

Churches. She was also involved in the welfare organisations, assisting the aged.

She continued this work after the unbanning of the ANC. In 1994, she was elected as one

of the first Senators and later became a member of the National Council of Provinces. She

participated in the portfolio committees on Education, Justice and Social Services. She

also participated in the adhoc Committee responsible for recommending members of the

Commission for Gender Equality. She lobbied for the establishment of the Office of the

Status of Women in the Free State Office of the Premier.

STATEMENT OF ACCEPTANCE BY WINKIE ISABELLA DIREKO

FREE STATE PREMIER CANDIDATE

I humbly accept the responsibility placed upon me by Cde Thabo Mbeki, ANC President. I

undertake to do all in my power to fulfil the expectations not only of my organisation but

also of the people of the province.

The challenge for the next period remains fulfilling our mandate to bring a better life

for all. The people of the Free State, black and white, have the responsibility to work

together further develop our full potential as a province.

The work done by Cdes Terror Lekota and Ivy Matsepe-Cassaburi laid a good foundation to

accelerate change.

I undertake work to promote the unity of the Movement alongside ANC Chairperson Cde Ace

Magashule.

PROFILE OF POPO MOLEFE

ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER OF NORTHWEST

Popo Simon Molefe was born in Sofiatown, with his family roots in Phokeng, Rustenburg.

He schooled at Naledi High in Soweto, where in 1973 his political involvement began

through his involvement in the South African Students Movement and the Black People's

Convention.

Popo participated in the pro-Frelimo activities in Soweto in 1974 and went on to be

part of the historic mobilization of students against the introduction of Afrikaans in

1976. For his involvement in this protest action, he was detained in 1976 for seven months

in terms of Section 6 of the Terrorism Act.

Upon release, he got involved in the re-organisation of the black consciousness

movement and became the Chairperson of the Soweto branch of AZAPO until 1980.

Active in organising the Soweto Civic Organisation (SCA), in 1982 Popo became a member

of the Committee of Ten and participated in the campaign to build the civic movement

throughout the country. He played a role in building the emerging progressive trade union

movement and joined the General and Allied Workers Union (GAWU) in 1979.

From the late 1970s, Popo took part in the underground structures of the ANC, later

becoming one of the founder members of the United Democratic Front, serving as its

National General Secretary. In this capacity, he played a central role in building the

formidable internal mass movement of the 1980’s against apartheid.

In its efforts to stamp out the mass resistance of the 1980's Popo, with twenty one

others, was charged with High Treason in the infamous Delmas Treason Trial. In 1985 he was

convicted and sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Released from Robben Island on appeal

in December 1989, Popo continued as part of the national leadership of the UDF and Mass

Democratic Movement.

In 1990 Popo became part of the Internal Leadership Core, responsible for setting up

the ANC as a mass legal movement. He was elected Chairperson of the ANC Alexandra branch

in 1990 and Deputy Chairperson of the ANC in the PWV region. He became a member of the NEC

and NWC in 1991 and still serves as a member of the NEC.

Popo Molefe headed the 1994 ANC Elections Campaign, which resulted in a resounding

victory for the ANC. Elected as Premier of the Northwest province and as Chairperson of

the ANC since 1994, Popo's leadership in the province has helped build a solid foundation

for the future.

Popo is married to Boitumelo Plaatje and they have four children. Their home is in

Mafikeng.

STATEMENT BY POPO MOLEFE

CANDIDATE PREMIER OF NORTHWEST PROVINCE

I am humbled by my appointment by the President of the ANC as Northwest Premier

Candidate for a second term. This is a rare privilege because the ANC has a spread of

excellent leaders from whom to choose its team.

During my first term, together with my comrades in the Northwest Province, we built a

solid institutional framework and foundation for the consolidation of democracy and the

acceleration of change in the next five years.

I am determined to work harmoniously with the constitutional structures of the ANC, the

Alliance and indeed all the people of the North West to return the ANC to power as

decisively as we did in 1994.

The priority for the next five years is to implement the ANC Manifesto and Programme to

speed up thorough change. In this regard we are committed to accelerate service delivery

with a clear focus on water, electricity, health care and education, especially in the

rural areas.

I pledge to work ceaselessly to consolidate the stability attained over the past five

years in our province, working for reconciliation and nation building. Above all, we will

continue to build a clean, accountable and efficient government.

Together, both ANC and government in the Northwest, will build a province of which all

South African citizens can be proud, confident of our future in a sustainable democracy.

PROFILE OF SIBUSISO JOEL NDEBELE,

ANC CANDIDATE PREMIER OF KWAZULU/NATAL

Sibusiso Joel Ndebele was born at Shiyane, in KwaZulu Natal,17 October 1948. His early

schooling was at Melmoth and completed matric at Eshowe High School.

The son of a Lutheran priest, he worked for a year at the Lutheran Church Centre at

Maphumulo where he became active in the University Christian Movement. Sbu registered at

University of Zululand in 1970, where he became an active member of SASO and rose to

become the director of publications of SASO in 1972.

After studying Library Science at the University of Zululand from 1970 until 1972, Sbu

worked as an assistant librarian at the University of the North in Pietersburg where he

joined the ANC underground.

In May 1976, Sbu was arrested and charged for establishing ANC underground structures

inside the country as well as receiving recruits for military training. Sbu was convicted

and sentenced to ten years on Robben Island where he established the first real library

for inmates.

Whilst on the Island, Sbu obtained a BA degree from UNISA in International Politics and

African Politics. In 1985 he obtained a BA Honours with distinction in Development

Administration and Politics.

Sbu worked as Research Fellow at the Department of Town and Regional Planning,

University of Natal until 1991 when he joined the University of Durban Westville as

Director of Residences where he remained until elected as an ANC MPL in April 1994.

After the unbanning of the ANC, Sbu was instrumental in building branches in

KwaZulu/Natal and was elected ANC regional secretary of Southern Natal. In 1994 and 1997,

Sbu was elected as a member of the ANC’s NEC.

But it is in KwaZulu/Natal where Sbu has played a key role in elaborating an

all-inclusive peace package.

After the April 1994 elections, Sbu was appointed MEC for Transport in KwaZulu/Natal.

Through his Community Access Roads Programme and the Rural Road Transport Forums, he

has been able to unite Traditional leaders, rural women and youth in the urgent task of

rural development.

In 1996, Sbu was elected ANC deputy chairperson in KwaZulu/Natal and in 1998 elected as

the ANC’s chairperson in the province. In these capacities he has worked hard to

promote peace in the province.

Sbu Ndebele is married to Zama and they have two girls, Nombuso and Ntandoyabantu and a

boy, Zwelonke.

STATEMENT BY PREMIER CANDIDATE OF KWAZULU NATAL

SBUSISO NDEBELE

That which injures instructs. KwaZulu Natal has known conflict and has known pain.

Political violence has been part of our past as South Africans up to 1994. In KZN that

violence has not only been part of our past. It also part of our present. But it cannot be

allowed to part of our future.

It is my firm belief that though this province has been wracked by wars and conflict

for more than a century, the present conflict is one which is closest to lasting peace.

But peace is a group effort. It is the responsibility of the ANC, her allies Cosatu and

the SACP. It is the responsibility of the IFP. It is the responsibility of the ANC and IFP

working together, not against each other.

I therefore feel humbled by the immense responsibility and trust that is today being

layed on my shoulders by ANC President Thabo Mbeki, to work with all the people of KwaZulu

Natal to establish a government whose commitment to peace and development will be beyond

question.

In 1994, the old was dead and gone, but what was new was too weak to be born.

KwaZulu Natal deserves peace. It is time for a new beginning. It is time for the ANC.

I would spare nothing in my power to ensure that the trust that has been shown in me is

not in vain.

Issued by African National Congress

22 April 1999