Political commentators say the African National Congress (ANC) Premier candidate for North West, Professor Job Mokgoro, is a credible person who has the capacity to unite the province. Mokgoro is expected to be sworn in as a member of the provincial legislature and subsequently as the successor to Supra Mahumapelo.
Born in the Northern Cape seventy years ago, Mokgoro went to receive his Master of Public Administration Degree from the University of Toledo in the US.
It was during the Bophuthatswana transitional period when former president Lucas Mangope was ousted, when Mokgoro rose to prominence and worked in the transitional government.
As a former lecturer and professor in the former University of Bophuthatswana, now North West, he became the Director-General in the new dispensation. Mokgoro’s former colleague at the North West University Professor Theo Venter has hailed him as a good disciplinarian.
“He became the first Director-General, he did a very good job at the beginning of the North West, I experienced him as a good administrator and very strict.”
Mokgoro was picked by a special ANC National Working Committee this week after a series of consultative meetings over who should fill the vacant position left by Mahumapelo. Another analyst from North West University, Professor Andre Duvenhage spoke well of Mokgoro as a seasoned administrator who brings a wealth of experience.
“ If we look at the possible people in the province, people who know the province , who have a strong academic, political and administrative background and who can make the difference, then I think Mr Job Mokgoro will probably come on top at least he is a strong administrator. He is not directly linked to any specific faction in a direct way, so there is a bit of independence but saying all this, it is still going to be very challenging. We know what is going on in the province at the moment.”
Mokgoro served in several boards of State Owned Enterpises in the province and adviced Former Premier Mahumapelo in many portfolios of governance. He was married to former Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro and will serve as premier until next year’s general elections.
Dyaell Gaetsewe
