The African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State has appointed Jabu Mbalula as its new spokesperson.
Spokesperson Oupa Khoabane said Mbalula was appointed to the party’s provincial lekgotla held in Bloemfontein.
“PEC has appointed Jabu Mbalula as spokesperson. Friend Jabu is not new to the industry, he will be able to carry out his responsibilities well.
“One hopes that the media will cooperate with him as you did with me. Thank you for cooperating with me, and I am sure you will do the same with Jabu Mbalula.
Jabu is the brother of ANC national secretary general and outgoing Cabinet minister Fikile Mbalula.
Chanting ‘ghost workers’
An investigation by a law firm found the new spin doctor to be one of the ghost workers paying the Mangaung metro millions.
READ ALSO: National Government Expels Ghost Workers Mangaung, Corruption
Residents reported how Mbalula and other politically connected Mangaung ANC members received fat salaries after the 2021 local government polls but never worked a day in the ailing municipality.
The revelations came after the transport minister launched Operation Ziveze in the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa) to expose ghost workers fleecing the multi-million rand entity while sitting in front.
More than 1,000 of them “withdrew” after the announcement.
The glaring irony for the Mbalula brothers caught the reader’s attention.
In September last year, management at the Mangaung metro claimed to have stopped payments to ghost workers.
The Free State is ‘up’ again
Sources in the province said Mbalula’s appointment did not come as a surprise.
“Jabu is an active member of the ANC himself, but he is also the brother of the new secretary-general at Luthuli House, and that is a powerful position in the ANC.
“It tells about the dynamics and influence of power. Whether they are paid to sit at home or not, no one sitting in the lekgotla seems to care,” said one informant who wished to remain anonymous because he was not allowed to speak about party issues.
Another source said the Mbalulas were seen as the “new force to clean up” after longtime Free State leader Ace Magashule’s fall from grace.
“The Free State is on the rise again,” he said.
NOW Read: Oh, the irony! Brother Mbalula appears to be one of Mangaung’s valuable ghost workers