North West premier not yet named ‘as ANC doesn’t want same mistake’

The delay in announcing a replacement for former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo is because the ANC national leadership doesn’t want to make the same mistake it did with him, a political analyst says.

Dumisani Hlophe said the party was wary of choosing someone who would embarrass it – as Mahumapelo did – but was looking for Mr or Ms Fix-it, who will clean up the mess left by his or her predecessor.

Hlophe said the situation had not reached a crisis stage.

ANC Veterans League provincial secretary Martin Sebakwane commended the ANC national executive committee for rejecting the three names submitted by the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) as possible replacements for Mahumapelo.

The three were provincial legislature speaker Susan Dantjie, former education MEC Rev OJ Tselapedi and agriculture MEC Manketsi Tlhape.

“We believe there was no consultation about those names. The appointment of the premier must be above board and it must be someone with impeccable credentials,” Sebakwane said.

He said the veterans had no specific name in mind, but believed that whoever was nominated should not have a history of divisive leadership and corruption, and must be the face of North West.

Hlophe said the ANC would not like to appoint a Mahumapelo loyalist, lest it get someone who would repeat his mistakes.

“In simple terms the ANC wants to avoid going through the embarrassment it went through with Supra,” Hlophe said.

He said Dantjie, Tselapedi and Tlhape were possibly rejected because the NEC was uncomfortable with their current performance.

The PEC also defied the NEC when they asked Mahumapelo not to resign after the ANC national working committee had asked him to do so, he said.

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