Pressure grows for North West premier to go

NORTH WEST Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s political career comes under the spotlight today as he faces a motion of no confidence against him which is being pushed by the EFF.

The motion comes after complaints of maladministration in provincial departments and a string of allegations of corruption against Mahumapelo, including ties with the controversial Gupta family.

Last week, ANC Youth League president Collen Maine also accused Mahumapelo of being the one who introduced him to the Gupta brothers, who have gained a reputation of capturing political leaders in order to loot state coffers.

Yesterday, the EFF provincial leadership headed to court in a bid to have the motion against Mahumapelo held through a secret ballot.

This, the party said, was aimed at protecting ANC MPLs who wanted to vote against Mahumapelo from being victimised by the party which he leads as chairperson.

While the EFF was the official opposition in the province, with five of the 33 seats at the legislature, the backing of the DA will not help it dislodge Mahumapelo, whose party holds 23 seats in the house.

With their combined nine seats, the EFF and the DA will need the backing from at least eight ANC MPLs if the motion is to succeed.

DA provincial leader Joey McGluwa has written a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa calling on him to instruct the ANC caucus to help boot him out today.

“The North West administration leaps from crisis to crisis, departments receive scathing audit outcomes, people are without jobs and in many instances service delivery has come to a halt. This is happening while Mr Mahumapelo occupies the people’s office.

“Mr Ramaphosa, Tuesday’s motion of no confidence is not narrow politics, it’s about putting people first,” McGluwa wrote.