Mahumapelo set to call it quits

BUDGET: NORTH WEST PREMIER DELIVERS SPEECH AMID RESIGNATION CALLS

Beleaguered North West premier said last night that he will resign today.

Makes cryptic announcement that he will be handing a letter to the speaker.

Amid continued calls for his head and calls from the ANC for his cooperation with investigations into allegations of corruption, North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo defiantly stepped to the podium to deliver his office’s budget speech yesterday.

The only sign that he may be considering to heed the call for his resignation was a cryptic announcement that he will be handing a letter to the speaker of the provincial legislature by Friday.

Mahumapelo made this announcement at the end of his speech, without saying what the letter would contain, but some assumed the premier had buckled under intense pressure and was resigning.

North West has seen several violent protests in recent weeks, with protesters demanding the resignation of Mahumapelo, whom they accuse of corruption.

The premier has complained of threats against his life, which have been reported to the police.

Shortly after his speech, ANC member of the provincial legislature Tsotso Tlhapi urged Mahumapelo’s office to cooperate with the Hawks, who are currently investigating several of the claims of corruption made against his administration.

“We, as the ANC, are happy that the office of the premier is cooperating with the Hawks and continues cooperating.

“It is only the ANC that can uproot corruption,” she said during the budget vote.

Earlier in March, the Hawks raided the office of the premier and the department of finance, economy and enterprise development.

At the time, the Hawks in the North West said it had conducted a search and seizure operation at Mahumapelo’s office, following investigations in relation to alleged maladministration, fraud and corruption, involving about R160 million.

Commenting on the matter yesterday during his budget speech, Mahumapelo said opposition parties were misleading the public that his office was raided, while “in fact, it was the office of the director of supply-chain which were raided”.

He appealed for calm in the province, saying people have the right to protest, as long as it is peaceful.

“Let us not use violence, let us not loot, let us not displace foreigners,” Mahumapelo said.

Before Mahumapelo could deliver his speech, EFF provincial chairperson Betty Diale wanted to know when the EFF-sponsored motion of no confidence in Mahumapelo would be debated.

Speaker Sussana Dantjie replied that the rules committee had not yet met to consider the motion, prompting the party to walk out.

The motion of no confidence in Mahumapelo was to be debated on April 17, but the EFF wrote to Dantjie, indicating that they were approaching the court to force the motion to be through a secret ballot, instead of an open ballot as Dantjie had ruled.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) rejected the budget, saying it was a budget that remains at the mercy of looters, liars and corrupt individuals.

“A budget of a premier who faced a motion of no confidence.

“A budget of a premier whose son received an R1.1-million bursary while thousands in this province suffer without proper education or jobs.

“A budget of a premier who gave permission to the head of the health department Thabo Lekalakale to travel overseas, paid by the peoples’ money,” said DA provincial leader Joe McGluwa.

“Under his nose, R30 million was paid to Mediosa when no services have been rendered – all this while there is currently no medication available at most of our clinics.

“People suffer due to no medical services here.”

Let us not use violence, loot, displace foreigners.