‘Appreciative’ party welcomes North West premier’s resignation

The North West ANC welcomed the resignation of Premier Supra Mahumapelo last night.

His resignation came after a strike in the provincial capital of Mahikeng that lasted for almost two months, corruption scandals and violent protests.

Mahumapelo was facing pressure from his party leadership and a motion of no confidence from the opposition EFF‚ which some of his ANC colleagues‚ including members of his cabinet‚ had vowed to support.

The ANC in North West said last night it accepted the resignation with great pride.

“As an organisation we will forever be appreciative and learn from his emphatic‚ principled but simple approach to issues‚” acting provincial secretary Suzan Dantjie said.

“In his 35 years of revolutionary activism in the ANC‚ he mastered the art of remaining simple and humble at all times‚ despite sustained con- cocted attacks against him by some friends and comrades.”

Dantjie said Mahumapelo would continue to serve the ANC in whatever role the party decided for him.

She said the ANC in the North West believed in Mahumapelo’s innocence until proven otherwise.

Mahumapelo’s resignation comes amid numerous allegations of corruption and the collapse of the province’s health department.

Graft allegations included an advance R30-million payment to a Gupta-linked company for provision of mobile clinics and a gift of cattle meant for emerging farmers to former president Jacob Zuma.