a more transparent and above-board manner, did not wish to interfere.
The reason for this, Kganare alleged, was that they were Mbeki
supporters who were somehow under the impression that Magashule
would back their slate at Polokwane.
‘Before Polokwane, [ANC communications head] Smuts Ngonyama
came to the Free State to represent the NEC, and he was sure that
Magashule would support Mbeki,’ Kganare said. ‘But we warned him
that Ace wouldn’t support Mbeki because Mbeki did not make him
premier.’
Kganare also said that Essop Pahad, Mbeki’s right-hand man, was
similarly convinced that Magashule would channel the Free State’s
support to Mbeki. ‘We told him that Ace was not going to support
Mbeki, but he was adamant that Ace had promised to endorse Mbeki,’
added Kganare.
According to sources close to political developments preceding the
Polokwane conference, Magashule’s appointment as MEC of sport,
arts, culture and recreation in August 2007 was the result of a back-
channel agreement orchestrated by the Mbeki camp. ‘Mbeki was
desperate for the Free State’s votes,’ said one source. ‘He and Essop
Pahad came to Bloemfontein to plead for the province’s support. That
is when Ace was again made MEC.’
This person, a former staffer in Marshoff’s office, said the then
premier agreed to appoint Magashule ‘at Thabo’s request’ and that
there was a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ that the Free State ANC would
support Mbeki in exchange for Magashule’s appointment as MEC.
Marshoff, apparently seeking a second term as premier in 2009 , did
not want to burn the bridge between her and Mbeki, and therefore
agreed to play along.
nora
(Nora)
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