WAR OF WORDS BETWEEN SANCO AND ANC IN TSHWANE AS MASHAO AND MATJILA CLASH

SANCO Tshwane Regional Chairperson Fire Mashao photo by Tshwane Talks

A war of words is brewing between South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) and ANC in Tshwane regarding a wheelchair programme run by Greater Tshwane Regional SANCO Chairperson Fire Mashao.

In a voice message circulated in social media and attributed to ANC Greater Tshwane Secretary George Matjila, Matjila can be heard criticising Mashao about the programme as follows:

“Comrades, this thing about wheelchair programmes, SANCO T-Shirts, caps and money is no longer a joke because it is an indication of the fact that the alliance has been infiltrated and it must be investigated.”

In the voice message Matjila also complains that those running the wheelchair programmes don’t discuss anything regarding SANCO but always complain about how they are ill-treated by the ANC.

“SANCO has been hijacked to undermine and attack the ANC in the region of Tshwane, and the aim is to take votes away from the ANC,” complained Matjila in the said voice message.

“This guy called Fire Mashao, who we thought was one of us, has for some time now been dishing out T-shirts, money, wheelchairs and everything, and some people follow him, thinking he is SANCO but the truth is Mashao is not SANCO because he takes every opportunity to attack the ANC and he is the person behind the registration of SANCO members as independent candidates regarding the forthcoming Local Government Elections scheduled for 4 November 2026,” lamented Matjila.

“Don’t disrespect me, don’t provoke me, otherwise I will in turn disrespect you and do so in public,” responded SANCO Chairperson Fire Mashao in reference to the voice message attributed to Matjila and which is in possession of Tshwane Talks.

“I believe that my wheelchair programme must not be the only project or programme that must be investigated but that other programmes or projects like waste collection, water tankers and meter reading run by people like Comrade Maebela must also be investigated and these investigations must be carried out by the Madlanga Commission,” said Mashao.

“All the tender projects in Tshwane must be investigated so that all people who received the said tenders must explain as to who they paid to get those tenders, and also how they profit from the tenders,” fumed Mashao as he dared Matjila to do his damnedest.

“You say I am not a SANCO leader, so I am also saying you are not an ANC leader and I want you to know that I am ploughing back into the community my own money which I get from my private business ventures,” said an irate Mashao.

“I have never had any contracts with the City of Tshwane or government departments, and you must therefore never associate me with wrong-doings of other people,” said Mashao steadfastly.

“I am not greedy like some of the leaders in the ANC and I hope that as time goes on those who have millions in the ANC will also plough back into the community because it is not a crime to plough back into the community,” he said.

“Fire Mashao is making a positive contribution with his wheelchair programme and may God bless him and anyone who is criticising him for this programme is unreasonable,” said one of the community members who chose to remain anonymous.

One ANC member praised Fire Mashao for the programme and added thar he is better than millionaires in the ANC who are doing nothing for the community.

“I wish ANC would have a hero who would be helpful to the community like Fire Mashao and I say all those who criticise him are jealous of him,” said a lady resident who is also a member of the ANC.

Yet another ANC member said the following:

“We can’t blame Fire Mashao for what he is doing and if all ANC leaders would do what Fire Mashao is doing then ANC would come out tops.”