Former Limpopo ANC Youth League provincial secretary and MPL David “Che” Selane has landed himself in hot water after making scathing remarks about some ANC members and Premier Phophi Ramathuba’s executive committee members during a podcast interview.

Without mentioning names, Selane alleged that some ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) members had bought their qualifications from private institutions, sparking outrage from the party’s provincial leadership.

Selane’s comments were made during an interview on a local podcast, where he alleged some ANC members had purchased qualifications.

“Go and check comrades of the ANC, they are ‘domkops’ (idiots) and they cannot outsmart me, these people ran away from school but have passed,” he said.

“If an investigation is carried out, many will be arrested. The reality is these comrades are in their numbers in Limpopo. Start with the ANC Limpopo provincial executive committee. They will give you private facilities. Private institutions are there for money and profit, because of tenders and business they give them those courses.”

Although he made the allegations without mentioning any names, however, sources within the party say he was referring to some senior members of the party who had blocked him to become MEC in Ramathuba’s executive.

“This is not about qualifications… it’s about how Che (Selane) is being questioned about his own credentials that landed him at the legislature…comrades are questioning as to how he made it to the list as an MPL for the second time without a constituency,” the source said.

The source added that Selane had ambitions of making it as an MEC but had fallen out of favour because he was divisive and factional.

“Regional conferences are coming up and Che feels it is the right time to make noise so he can drum up support to make it into the PEC in the next provincial conference,” the insider said.

ANC Limpopo spokesperson Jimmy Machaka has since written to provincial secretary Reuben Madadzhe, requesting action be taken against Selane.

“His utterances have brought the organisation as well as the caucus into disrepute,” Machaka said. “Selane should be made to fully account for his public utterances. In the event it is found that he breached party rule 25, he should be subjected to the provincial disciplinary hearing,” Machaka wrote in the letter.

Machaka described Selane’s utterances as “reckless and unjustified”, saying he needs to provide clarity on the matter.

“He made utterances in a podcast, alleging that ANC members and the entire leadership of the organisation had purchased qualifications from private institutions.”

Machaka described the comments as an insult to the leadership, adding that Selane draws a monthly salary from the same organisation.

“If Selane believed that certain leaders had indeed purchased qualifications, he could have brought that to the attention of the organisation or referred the matter to law enforcement agencies.”

Selane’s comments have sparked a heated debate within the party, with some calling for him to provide evidence to support his claims.

Machaka said there was no need to investigate ANC leaders unless they were presented with evidence.

Efforts to get Selane’s comment were unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls and messages. On Wednesday, he answered his phone but later hung up after realising the call was from the media.

The ANC’s provincial leadership is expected to act against Selane soon, which could include disciplinary charges.

mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za