Opposition parties in the North West province say they will also submit nominations for the election of the new Premier. This as members of all political parties are expected to elect the new Premier, during a full sitting of the North West Provincial Legislature in Mahikeng, on Monday.
The ANC has announced 67-year-old struggle veteran, Bushy Maape, as their premier nominee. Maape is replacing former Premier Job Mokgoro, who resigned two weeks ago.
Mokgoro resigned following the ANC Interim Provincial Committee’s (IPC) call for his removal, accusing him of not taking instructions from the party. Maape was announced as his replacement. He has since been sworn in as a member of the provincial legislature last week Thursday.
On Monday morning about 32 members of the North West Provincial Legislature, were expected to elect the new premier. Although the ANC has nominated Maape as their premier candidate, opposition parties have already indicated that they will also nominate their own candidate.
Democratic Alliance Chief Whip, Freddy Sonakile explains.
“We have taken a decision that we will field our own candidate, we are in talks with other opposition members and we will also be engaging even ANC members from MEC’s to ordinary MPL’S to hear their views and to try to sell the candidate that we will be going with because we believe that what needed at this stage is some sort of a government of unity.”
Bushy Maape announced as the premier-elect for North West province:
EFF’s Lebogang Xaba, is confident that the new premier for the province will not be from the ANC.
“We will not support anybody who is from the ANC even the one that is coming. But anybody that is in the legislature but is not an ANC we will support him. We are 100% confident that heads are going to roll come Tuesday. Maybe North West is going to change, just watch the space.”
But, the ANC is not shaken by the intentions of the opposition parties. The coordinator for the ANC IPC, Hlomane Chauke says they will use their majority to defeat the opposition.
“Well the ANC has the majority and I think that they have a right to do that. Opposition parties have the right to do that, but the ANC has its own majority. What we believe is that members of the ANC will vote with the party as directed by the party. So opposition can field up whatever, but I think they will never win against the ANC.”
The legislature has confirmed that should there be more than one nomination, voting for the new premier will be conducted through a secret ballot. Acting Secretary for the Legislature, Maphetlhe Maphetlhe, elaborates.
”In that case, the judge president like as a process will call for nominations. Political parties will field their person the judge president will divide the house. There will be ballot papers given to political parties and members will start to vote for their preferred candidate. It will be conducted through a secret ballot as it is regulated.”
It remains to be seen whether the ruling party will use its majority to vote in Maape as the new premier, or opposition parties will influence the reportedly divided ANC caucus members to defeat Maape.
