EFF leader whips premier Ndlovu into submission

Sedibe forces leader's hand to fire two MECs

- By Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

EFF Mpumalanga leader Collen Sedibe has entrenched himself as one of the most feared political figures in the province after successfully pressuring Premier Mandla Ndlovu to axe two MECs who had repeatedly clashed with him.

Sedibe, who publicly called for the dismissal of education MEC Cathy Dlamini and economic development and tourism MEC Makhosazane Masilela, appears to have gotten his way this week.

Both MECS were removed in a reshuffle that followed Sedibe's stern warning to Ndlovu to “remove them or face political consequences”.

Sedibe frequently accused Dlamini of favouring businesspeople aligned to her interests. He wanted Masilela to be removed for siding with the Nkomazi Special Economic Zone board, which hired its own colleague as CEO of the R2-billion entity.

While Dlamini and Masilela have always denied allegations of impropriety, Sedibe somehow reached Ndlovu's mind, forcing him to swing the axe.