Mathabatha resigns amid vote-rigging claims

Politics in Limpopo has been thrown into turmoil by news that the province's ANC chair and former premier Stan Mathabatha has stepped down from his position – 10 months before his term of office expires.

- Alex Japho Matlala

Mathabatha, who was appointed national deputy minister of land reform and rural development in July last year, wrote to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula on Monday, citing allegations of vote rigging and political polarisation at the recent ANC Vhembe and Waterberg regional elective conferences as some of the reasons for his decision.

In a letter widely circulated to social media on Monday, Mathabatha said "this decision is motivated by the concerning misconduct and lack of ANC values that I have observed within the organisation".