ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe has just addressed journalists outside the meeting venue. It’s unclear if a decision on the impasse between Premier Supra Mahumapelo and the people in the North West will be reached tonight.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President David Mabuza and other ANC leaders including the embattled North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo are locked behind closed doors for an urgent party meeting. This follows two days of violent protests amid calls for Mahumapelo to resign.
The President arrived earlier this afternoon after cutting short his trip to the United Kingdom.
Mahikeng was totally shut down on Thursday – looting and barricading of streets continued unabated on Friday.
A group of residents gathered outside the venue of the meeting.
They want to know whether the ANC will recall embattled Mahumapelo.
Earlier the residents, who were expecting ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa to address them moved from a local stadium to a shopping mall.
The residents who have been involved in violent protests are anxiously awaiting the outcome of the urgent ANC meeting. Mahikeng and surrounding areas remain on lockdown.
Amid heightened tensions in the North West capital, residents say they expect president Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to restore order in the area.
Mahikeng is engulfed in violent anti-Supra Mahumapelo protests. There has been widespread looting and destruction of private and public property.
Three days of violent protest action has left a trail of destruction, vehicles torched, shops looted and the local cultural centre set ablaze.
The residents who have been involved in violent protests are anxiously awaiting the outcome of an urgent ANC meeting which is expected to decide the future of Premier.
Mahikeng and surrounding areas remain on lock-down. Residents have burnt some buildings, prevented public transport from operating, forced businesses to close and basic services to come to a standstill, as they call for the resignation of Mahumapelo.
Learners from about six schools in Ganyesa village near Vryburg, North West, have joined the protests.
Despite Police Minister Bheki Cele’s call for the protesters to refrain from burning infrastructure and looting shops, the situation remains tense.
Learners from about six schools in Ganyesa village near Vryburg, North West, have joined the protests.
Despite Police Minister Bheki Cele’s call for the protesters to refrain from burning infrastructure and looting shops, the situation remains tense.
Community spokesperson, Moshe Moepetsane, says the learners are complaining about arms manufacturer Denel’s awarding of a more than one-million-rand bursary to Mahumapelo’s son, Oarabile.
“The bursary should be for people who are poor, poor families, because the premier is having everything and getting a salary. The son of the premier cannot be granted the bursary because of that,” Moepetsane says.
The protests have been going on for two days, and some residents say that Mahikeng is “at a standstill” due to the looting and the shutting down of roads. Botswana has already shut down its main road leading to Mahikeng.
For more on Ramaphosa’s response and the protests, click below:
