The political star of outgoing ANC provincial treasurer and deputy legislature speaker Philemon Mapulane continues to shine following his election to the party’s highest decision making body last year.

Together with two other party officials in the province – Pinki Moloi and Pinky Mokoto – Mapulane was elected to the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) at the Mangaung conference last year. The three are now set to relinquish their posts and concentrate on their national duties. Moloi is the Dr Kenneth Kaunda municipality mayor and Mokoto is a Ngaka Modiri Molema municipality councillor.

Provincial ANC spokesperson Kenny Morolong said the provincial executive committee (PEC) had already accepted the three officials’ resignations.

Morolong said: “The PEC accepted with humility the resignation of the three members from the PEC as they are going to serve as NEC members.

“The PEC wishes to extend its appreciation to comrades Philly Mapulane, Pinky Mokoto and Pinki Moloi for their distinguished leadership and unparalleled dedication to organisational work during their service in the PEC and wish them well in their responsibilities in the NEC.”

Morolong also said the names of three party members – Ntombi Koloti, Suzan Tsebe and Fenny Motladiile – were brought forward as possible replacements for the three officials.

“These replacements are subject to ratification of the provincial general council whose date will be decided at the next PEC meeting. The PEC will also, at the said meeting, appoint an acting provincial treasurer in consultation with the NEC,” he said.

Mapulane’s political future seemed to have hit a snag after he was fired as municipal manager at the Madibeng local municipality in 2010 and was slapped with charges of gross misconduct, bribery and corruption.

However, he was not convicted on any of the charges and managed to reinvent his political game when he was elected ANC provincial treasurer at a conference held in Rustenburg in 2011.

Last year, Mapulane was sworn in as the provincial legislature deputy speaker, a position he currently holds.

His rise to the NEC paints a picture of someone who has defied the odds and could be destined for bigger political responsibilities in the future.

Oupa Matla, a senior member of the ANC, said the party would have to find replacements for Mapulane and the two others in areas they were deployed.

Meanwhile, Kenny Morolong has been appointed as deputy chairperson of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA).

However, Matla said the appointment would not affect Morolong’s PEC responsibilities in any way.

“He will remain the provincial ANC spokesperson while serving in the NYDA board but it’s a positive development to our profile as a province,” he said.

Courtesy of http://www.thenewage.co.za