The ANC will decide at its next National Executive Committee meeting planned for this weekend as to who should replace outgoing North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo. The embattled North West premier announced today that he is taking early retirement after weeks of protests calling on him to step down.
Mahumapelo made the announcement at the ANC’s headquarters, Luthuli House, in Johannesburg. The North West was rocked by violent protests recently against Mahumapelo amid accusations he was fostering widespread corruption in the North West. Mahumapelo has outlined what he claims was long term issues of corruption in the province that preceded his administration. He also says he does not want to be accused of being a counter-revolutionary in the party.
“There are two reasons why I am going on early retirement. The first reason is to say while this investigations that are taking place, if they take place in my presence there will be an accusation that I am using the office also to protect myself. The second reason is the organisation in the province is going to attend to this counter-revolution and if I continue to stay as the premier when some of the counter revolutionaries are embedded in a programme disguised as a revolutionary council and so on, I will also be accused of using my position in government for self-defence,” says Mahumapelo.
