Message is clear about ANC duo

Even by the Teflon-coated standards of ANC leadership – where the sternest accusation slides off without leaving a mark – the comments by former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo were breathtaking in their refusal to acknowledge reality. The man who was part of the “premier league” of provincial rulers allegedly aiding and abetting former president Jacob Zuma in state capture, believes that his organisation must be “self-critical” in its assessment of its loss of support in the North West provincial poll.

As if Mahumapelo himself were living on another planet when his shambolic, inept and corrupt administration reduced the North West to a basket case.

We hope Mahumapelo and the others in the Zuma clique will not be long for this world politically. He and people like Ace Magashule, Nomvula Mokonyane, Bathabile Dlamini, Malusi Gigaba (and a string of others) should not be allowed anywhere near parliament or a government position where they can get their hands on taxpayer cash.

If President Cyril Ramaphosa is serious about his “new dawn” clean-up of corruption in government and the ANC, one would expect that to happen. And, this week, we had an encouraging indication that the wheels of justice will turn against senior ANC people, regardless of their connections.

The appearance of the eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede, in court yesterday on charges of fraud, corruption and racketeering is, we hope, the first of many such prosecutions to come.

Mahumapelo and his premier league comrade Magashule should both be “self-critical” about what happened in their provinces on May 8, when both cost the ANC votes in the provincial and national polls.

Those results could indicate people’s anger at the stealing – and, therefore, cannot be ignored by the ANC.

The message to the ANC is: You don’t need them. They shouldn’t scare you – so deal with them.