Mathabo Leeto
{{Short description|South African politician (born 1960)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Mathabo Leeto
| honorific-suffix = MPL
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| office = Member of the Free State Executive Council for Social Development
| premier = Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae
| term_start = 23 June 2024
| term_end =
| predecessor = Motshidisi Koloi
| successor =
| office1 = Member of the Free State Executive Council for Health
| premier1 = Mxolisi Dukwana
| term_start1 = 14 March 2023
| term_end1 = 14 June 2024
| predecessor1 = Montseng Tsiu
| successor1 = Monyatso Mahlatsi
| office2 = Member of the Free State Executive Council for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation
| premier2 = Sisi Ntombela
Ace Magashule
| term_start2 = 29 May 2014
| term_end2 = 7 May 2019
| predecessor2 = Dan Kgothule
| successor2 = Limakatso Mahasa
| office3 = Provincial Treasurer of the African National Congress
| term_start3 = 22 January 2023
| term_end3 =
| predecessor3 = Sisi Ntombela (2021)
| successor3 =
| office4 = Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature
| term_start4 = 13 March 2023
| term_end4 =
| term_start5 = 21 May 2014
| term_end5 = 7 May 2019
| birthname =
| birth_date = 29 November 1960
| birth_place =
| death_date =
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| nationality =
| party = African National Congress
| otherparty =
| spouse =
| partner =
| relations =
| children =
| residence = Odendaalsrus, Free State
| education =
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}}
Nokwanje Selina "Mathabo" Leeto (born 29 November 1960) is a South African politician who was elected to the Free State Provincial Legislature in the 2014 general election. She was appointed as the Member of the Executive Council for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation. Leeto left the provincial legislature at the 2019 general election. She was elected provincial treasurer of the African National Congress in January 2023 and returned to the Provincial Legislature in March 2023. She was then appointed as the MEC for Health. Following the 2024 general election, Leeto took over as the MEC for Social Development.
Background
Leeto served as a ward councillor for the African National Congress and as a member of the National Executive Committee of the women's league.{{Cite web |title='I am not a Magashule loyalist' – Free State premier candidate speaks out |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-01-10-i-am-not-a-magashule-loyalist--free-state-premier-candidate-speaks-out/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=SowetanLIVE |language=en-ZA}} She was the mayor of the Matjhabeng Local Municipality, before becoming the mayor of the Lejweleputswa District Municipality in 2011. After her swearing-in as district mayor, it was revealed that the municipality spent R640 000 on her inauguration ceremony instead of extending a job-creation programme.{{Cite web |title=Municipality used R640 000 to inaugurate mayor |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/municipality-used-r640-000-to-inaugurate-mayor-20150429 |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} In June 2012, Leeto was elected as chairperson of the ANC's Lejweleputswa Region.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=Lejweleputswa ANC voorsitter wil haar party herenig |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/87462/lejweleputswa-anc-voorsitter-wil-haar-party-herenig |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM|language=Afrikaans}}
Free State provincial government
=MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation: 2014–2019=
Leeto was elected to the Free State Provincial Legislature in the 2014 general election as the ANC won 22 seats in the legislature.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=FS Legislature members to be inaugurated next week |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/146403/fs-legislature-members-to-be-inaugurated-next-week |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM}} She was then appointed by premier Ace Magashule to the Executive Council of the Free State as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, succeeding Dan Kgothule who was not re-elected to the provincial legislature.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=Net twee veranderings aan Magashule se uitvoerende raad |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/147201/net-twee-veranderings-aan-magashule-se-uitvoerende-raad |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM|language=Afrikaans}}{{Cite news |date=29 May 2014 |title=New faces in Free State executive |work=IOL |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/new-faces-in-free-state-executive-1696031 |access-date=15 March 2023}}
She remained as MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation following Sisi Ntombela's election as Premier of the Free State.{{Cite news |date=9 May 2018 |title=Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela reshuffles Cabinet |work=IOL |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/free-state-premier-sisi-ntombela-reshuffles-cabinet-14868114 |access-date=15 March 2023}} In early-March 2019, Leeto was elected president of the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco).{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=Mathabo Leeto elected as Sanco president |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/272256/mathabo-leeto-elected-as-sanco-president |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM}} The following month, Sanco accused Magashule of moving Leeto down the ANC's national party list to prevent her from joining Parliament following the May 8, 2019 general elections.{{Cite news |date=23 April 2019 |title=#Elections2019: Sanco accuses Ace Magashule of tampering with #ANCList |work=IOL |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/elections2019-sanco-accuses-ace-magashule-of-tampering-with-anclist-21780069 |access-date=15 March 2023}} Leeto was not elected to parliament and left the provincial legislature.{{Cite web |title=Nokwanje Selina Leeto |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/nokwanje-selina-leeto/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}}
=MEC for Health: 2023–2024=
Leeto was sworn in as a Member of the Free State Provincial Legislature on 13 March 2023.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=Four sworn in as new Free State Legislature members |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/centralsa/322576/four-sworn-in-as-new-free-state-legislature-members |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM}} The following day, newly elected premier Mxolisi Dukwana announced his Executive Council which saw Leeto replace Montseng Tsiu as MEC for Health.{{Cite web |last=Reporter |first=Citizen |date=2023-03-15 |title=Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana appoints new MECs in Cabinet shake-up |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/government/free-state-premier-mxolisi-dukwana-march-2023/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}
=MEC for Social Development: 2024=
Following the 2024 provincial election, Dukwana was replaced as premier with Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae. Lesotha-Mathae named Leeto as the new MEC for Social Development.{{Cite web |title=Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae announces members of Free State Executive Council for 7th administration {{!}} South African Government |url=https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/premier-maqueen-letsoha-mathae-announces-members-free-state-executive-council |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=www.gov.za}}
In the provincial ANC
After Magashule was elected Secretary-General of the African National Congress, a position which required that he must resign as ANC provincial chairperson, in December 2017, Leeto and the MEC for Police‚ Roads and Transport Sam Mashinini were seen as favourites to succeed Magashule as the ANC provincial chairperson in the Free State. Leeto was accused of being a Magashule loyalist, which she has subsequently refuted. Mashinini was elected provincial chairperson at the party's conference in May 2018.{{Cite web |title=New leadership elected for ANC in the Free State |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/new-leadership-elected-for-anc-in-the-free-state-20180520 |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}
=Provincial treasurer of the ANC=
Leeto was elected as the provincial treasurer of the ANC at the party's elective conference in January 2023, defeating staunch Magashule supporter Vusi Tshabalala.{{Cite web |last=Njilo |first=Nonkululeko |date=2023-01-22 |title=ANC PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE: No friends of Ace: Magashule allies fail to land Free State ANC Top Five slots |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-22-no-friends-of-ace-magashule-allies-fail-to-land-free-state-anc-top-five-slots/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}
Controversies
=Tenure as Matjhabeng mayor=
Leeto and Health MEC Benny Malakoane appeared in the Welkom Regional Court on 1 August 2014 on fraud and corruption charges relating to Malakoane's tenure as Matjhabeng municipal manager while Leeto served as the municipality's mayor; the case was transferred to the Bloemfontein Regional Court.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=FS Health MEC corruption case transferred to Bfn |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/150463/fs-health-mec-corruption-case-transferred-to-bfn |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM}} Their trial officially began in November 2015.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=Korrupsieverhoor van twee Vrystaatse LUR'e begin |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/173804/korrupsieverhoor-van-twee-vrystaatse-lure-begin |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM|language=Afrikaans}} Leeto was acquitted on more than 200 charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and accepting bribes dating back to her tenure as Matjhabeng mayor on 4 November 2016 after she wrote to the National Prosecuting Authority requesting them to review all the charges against her.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=No basis to continue with prosecution against FS Sport MEC: NPA |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/208696/no-basis-to-continue-with-prosecution-against-fs-sport-mec-npa |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM}}
Leeto and Bloem Water CEO Limakatso Moorosi were arrested by The Hawks for fraud and corruption on 16 February 2018 dating back to her tenure as Matjhabeng mayor.{{Cite web |title=Two more Free State officials arrested for fraud, corruption {{!}} eNCA |url=https://www.enca.com/south-africa/two-more-free-state-officials-arrested-for-fraud-corruption |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=www.enca.com |language=en}} She had allegedly awarded a tender worth millions of rands for the procurement and installation of telephone systems, CCTV cameras, photocopy machines without following the correct tender procedures as stipulated by law and she and Moorosi reportedly received kickbacks; the NPA later withdrew the charges due to the low chances of success.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=‘Bloem Water can’t function optimally without me’ - CEO in bail application |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/centralsa/304849/-bloem-water-can-t-function-optimally-without-me-ceo-in-bail-application |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM}}
=Comments during Women's Day debate=
During a debate in the legislature on Women's Day in the legislature in August 2018, Leeto was accused of saying that when Dutch navigator Jan van Riebeeck arrived in the Cape was when all the trouble started in South Africa and that all white men are rapists and they should be exhumed from their graves to account.{{Cite web |last=Heerden |first=Pierce Van |date=2018-08-08 |title=A FS MEC accused of racial slurs |url=https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/a-fs-mec-accused-of-racial-slurs/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Bloemfontein Courant |language=en-US}} She had earlier been accused of calling the DA leader in the legislature Roy Jankielsohn "a piece of faeces"; she denied this and said that the translator misheard her when she was speaking Sesotho. Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum subsequently called for her dismissal.{{Cite web |title=AfriForum demands dismissal of Free State MEC due to racist behaviour - AfriForum |url=https://afriforum.co.za/en/afriforum-demands-dismissal-free-state-mec-due-racist-behaviour/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=hAfriForum |language=en-US}} Leeto denied making the comments and said that she was not a racist person.{{Cite web |last=OFM |title=FS MEC accused of racial slurs |url=https://www.ofm.co.za/article/local-news/264522/fs-mec-accused-of-racial-slurs |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=OFM}}{{Cite web |date=2018-08-11 |title=Corruption-accused ANC MEC calls all white people 'rapists' |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/corruption-accused-anc-mec-calls-all-white-people-rapists/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=The Citizen |language=en}}
Personal life
References
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External links
- {{Wikiquote inline}}
{{Free State MPLs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Leeto, Mathabo}}
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:Members of the Free State Provincial Legislature
Category:Women members of provincial legislatures of South Africa