Gauteng Premier David Makhura's fate is currently being decided by the newly elected ANC Gauteng Provincial Executive Committee led ANC Provincial Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi. Zimoja can reveal that the new PEC, especially members aligned to both Lesufi and Lebogang Maile, have decided that Makhura must vacate the position immediately.

AGAINST HIS DECISIONS

The latest move by the two factions, which went toe to toe at the Provincial Conference, that saw Lesufi emerge as Provincial Chairperson over Maile, allegedly wants Makhura to leave the Premier's office now apparently because they are against his decisions of going against some of their funders. Another factor which apparently informed the latest move, according to officials close to the matter, was Premier Makhura's planned cabinet reshuffle."They had planned to allow him to finish his term, but he is now going after the people who funded their campaigns . So basically he is going after them and they are now retaliating,"  said a PEC member close to one of the officials.

MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT

According to three PEC members who attended the meeting, which started today around 9am, the top five officials in the province have also arranged a meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa to inform him about their decision. The planned meeting with the President was also confirmed by one of his aides who said the Gauteng officials have long being engaging Ramaphosa about their decision. An official close to the President said the meeting between the Gauteng officials and Ramaphosa was strategically scheduled for later today after the PEC meeting, where the decision to remove Makhura will be communicated to him.
"The reason they asked for a meeting after the PEC is because they didn't want to speak to him about Makhura's fate as individuals, but to communicate the decision as a recommendation of a structure of the party, which if they do, will be difficult for the President to ignore them, " said the source.

AN ULTIMATUM

Another senior ANC leader said the meeting the President and the officials will also discuss the possibility of accommodating the Premier in the national cabinet to avoid leaving him unemployed. "The intention is not to embarrass him, but if he resists, they will be left with no choice but to send him an ultimatum to either resign or be fired publicly," said one other Provincial leaders. Zimoja tried to contact the Gauteng ANC Provincial Secretary TK Nciza and Chairperson Lesufi, but without success as they were all in the PEC meeting at the time. Questions were sent to Makhura but at the time of publishing, he had not responded.

* This is a developing story