Supra’s ‘anarchic’ talk scuppers meeting

NORTH West ANC chairperson Supra Mahumapelo’s support at former president Jacob Zuma’s court appearance has caused more strain on the ruling party’s relationship with the SACP in the troubled province.

At the weekend, the SACP abandoned a meeting scheduled with the ANC and Cosatu and vowed not to attend future gatherings between allies, saying Mahumapelo disrespected President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Addressing Zuma supporters outside the Durban High Court on Friday, Mahumapelo said those who were against support for the former president were mentally challenged, and also added that Zuma was still “our president” vowing to defend him to the end.

The ANC-led alliance in the North West had planned to hold a political council over the weekend, but the SACP resolved to snub the event, saying they would also not be attending future alliance events involving Mahumapelo.

Yesterday, SACP provincial secretary Madoda Sambatha said while the party was part of preparations for the meeting which was eventually called off, it was offended by Mahumapelo’s claim that his president was still Zuma.

“This is a direct attack on the ANC president (Ramaphosa). He knows who was elected the president of the ANC at an ANC conference and that he can no longer call any other person the president when they are still members of the ANC,” Sambatha said.

Alliance relations have been at a low in the province after the SACP and Cosatu called for Mahumapelo’s removal over corruption allegations and poor governance.

Sambatha said they would not meet with the ANC until the governing party’s national executive committee takes a final decision on the future of the North West provincial structure when it holds its \

special meeting later this month.

“We will not give them legitimacy when he disregards, in public, an ANC president. We will not go to any alliance process in the province that is going to be chaired by him up until the ANC decides on the future of the provincial structure.

“For as long as he has this anarchic tendency, we will not glorify his meetings,” he said.

SACP national spokesperson Alex Mashilo said the party’s national leaders were expecting an urgent report from their provincial structure on the decision by today.

Mahumapelo could not be reached for comment and ANC provincial spokesperson Gerald Modise had not responded to questions by the time of going to print.

Cosatu provincial secretary Job Dliso said while the federation had issues with the ANC, it would not boycott meetings of the alliance.