Mahumapelo ‘has no mandate to rule’
Sotashe said the national government needs to intervene as the DA has irregularly stepped into governance matters.
“The DA has once again shown its total disregard for the people of Cape Town with its anti-democratic and racist actions in the city. The DA’s perpetual state of crisis is the cause of major governance failures in the City of Cape Town. The racism of the white bosses of the DA and the collusion with foreign business interests on various lucrative contracts. De Lille is being sacrificed on the altar of mammon for the DA to build a financial fund to fight the ANC,” he said.
DA Western Cape leader Bonginkosi Madikizela said he would respond via text message, but at the time of going to print he had not responded.
African Christian Democratic Party councillor Grant Haskin said: “Many parties have had occasion to expel members who hold political office for breaching the party constitution. The DA has now expelled mayor De Lille as a member, meaning she automatically loses her seat in the Cape Town Council.”
There is confusion as to who the mayor is, but De Lille’s membership being terminated means she is effectively not the mayor.
The Independent Electoral Commission, the only body that can fill the vacancy, confirmed it had been served with court papers by De Lille’s lawyers interdicting it from starting the process.
The Electoral Commission of SA Western Cape head Courtney Sampson said it would respect the court proceedings and wait for an outcome before proceeding. DEFIANT North West premier Supra Mahumapelo has no mandate from the people, the opposition DA said.
The party in the North West called upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to intervene and save what is left of the province, which has become mired in corruption and controversy under Mahumapelo’s rule.
“Premier Supra Mahumapelo is no longer governing with a mandate from the people, but is rather ruling like a dictator. He is being propped up by a self-interested cabal, which is working to loot the people’s money until there is nothing left to steal,” said DA provincial leader Joe McGluwa.
He was reacting to the ANC provincial executive committee’s decision which resolved that Mahumapelo should remain as a premier despite his announcement on Tuesday that he would resign by midday yesterday.
McGluwa called on Ramaphosa, also the president of the ANC, to intervene and save what was left of the North West. “The reality is that this is a mess of Ramaphosa, who has accommodated Mahumapelo’s lies and arrogance. If he had acted swiftly, we would not be here today.
“The people in North West have spoken and they took to the streets as they want the premier to step down. Mahumapelo’s clinging to power has resulted in strikes in the province severely affecting businesses, teaching time and the safety of all communities,” he said.
He said Mahumapelo’s allegation that there is a political conspiracy against him was an excuse.
“His mention of political conspiracies and agendas against him is just another way of passing the buck. This is the same tactic deployed by Jacob Zuma during times of pressure. The people are not fooled.
“His sudden outburst against corruption and poor contractors during a media briefing was amusing – especially taking into consideration that his offices were raided by the Hawks and there are outstanding investigations into corruption against him.”
McGluwa said the people of North West would suffer more if Ramaphosa did not recall him.
“Keeping Supra as the ANC chairperson in North West will also be an opportunity to still rule from behind the scenes. The ANC and Mahumapelo have again ignored the voices of the people and we will hold them accountable for any further destruction and losses due to the Supra power trip,” he added.
Mahumapelo, 49, had been under pressure to step down since April 18 when a wave of violent protests erupted in Mahikeng calling for his resignation. The provincial capital Mahikeng was locked down for three days, as shops were looted and roads barricaded with burning objects and rocks as the call for his resignation grew.
The protests spilled over to other parts of the province. – African News Agency (ANA)
‘HE IS BEING PROPPED UP BY A SELFINTERESTED CABAL’