BY REGINALD KANYANE
NORTH West premier Supra Mahumapelo detractors resurfaced again. The latest accusations came forth that Mahumapelo was planning to close down all funeral parlours across the province. This sent shivers down some businesspersons, but Mahumapelo was quick to dismiss this.
Mahumapelo dismissed the allegations as malicious and preposterous. He said the circulating rumours that he was planning to close funeral parlours in the province was absurd and unfounded.
“This is part of an on-going political agenda. All manner of rumours are spread about me from time to time and the intention is to discredit me politically. In February 2016 they told people that I have died as a result of a heart attack.” Mahumapelo said.
“It has come to the attention of the provincial government that there are people spreading malicious statements that I own a huge funeral parlour and that I plan to close others that operate in the province. There were rumours that I also died in a car accident previously.
“The allegations are baseless and seek to tarnish my good image. There are no plans to close funeral parlours. Instead the provincial government would like to engage with owners of funeral parlours with a view to understanding some of the challenges they experience in their business,” Mahumapelo said.
He said the engagement will be done as part of the Setsokotsane approach. He said the programme seeks to accelerate service delivery to all citizens of North West.
Mahumapelo said they will continue to support small, medium and micro enterprises especially in rural areas. Mahumapelo said they targeted the SMMEs sector as an economic empowerment vehicle for previously disadvantaged people.
“SMMEs form the integral part of our economy. So SMMEs will receive significant attention and investment. This will range from establishment of state-initiated projects. We will provide necessary skills to village business owners. We have already implemented village developmental programme,” he said.
Mahumapelo also urged those who spread rumours about him to refrain from that. He said the provincial government came up with a Reconciliation, Renewal and Healing programme to unite the people across North West.
“We want to continue to bring peace and unity within the communities of the province. You will remember that the Freedom Charter mentioned that factionalism and division must not have any place within the organisation, so our mission is just that.
“Since the dawn of this programme, we have experienced reduce infightings. We want to bring reconciliation, healing and renewal after the province previously experienced spate of unrest,” he said.
Mahumapelo said manifested division within the province is not needed.
“We want to rebuild a relationship between the government and its citizens. The situation needs to be improved so to all pastors and reverends, please pray for the province and harmonies will prevails,”he said.
-TDN
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