‘Drunk’ crowd props up premier

More than 200 ANC members, a number of whom appeared intoxicated, descended on the Embassy Hall in Mahikeng in support of embattled North West premier Supra Mahumapelo yesterday.

Branch members, mostly from Bojanala and Dr Ngaka Modiri Molema, arrived in the morning wearing ANC regalia. They spoke in one voice that the provincial executive committee must give them reasons why the premier must resign.

Sebang Motlhabi, a youth league member from Bloemhof, said if Mahumapelo left the office, people will have a perception that he was guilty of corrupt activities levelled against him.

Supporters said they wanted to know whether he was resigning because those allegations were true or not.

“We need to go back to our communities and have a clear answer as to why the premier was recalled,” said one group of the crowd.

Another member, Alfred Nyamane, said President Cyril Ramaphosa was under pressure [to fire Mahumapelo] because it was payback time after he won the ANC presidency in December.

The group said people across the country were protesting for different reasons but the president was not giving them the attention.

“We are asking ourselves: how genuine is this issue when it comes to the North West province, why are they impatient? The president has been pushed into the corner,” Nyamane said.

Addressing his supporters after the meeting, Mahumapelo said he was innocent.

“You must define the unity of the ANC,” said Mahumapelo. “The branches must not be afraid to stand up and defend what is correct.

“If there are people who have evidence against me, why are they not approaching law enforcement agencies so that cases can be opened?

“The other problem is that if you are going to remove people based on allegations, the ANC will be left without leadership because all of you here can make allegations against anybody any day.”

Mahumapelo also urged his supporters to support former president Jacob Zuma. “We are innocent until [we are] proven guilty.”