By OBAKENG MAJE
The ANC Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) in the North West said Keabetswe Bushy Maape who was announced as the new North West Premier, will bring stability to the province. The ANC IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke was addressing the media today at the North West Provincial Legislature’s ANC Chief Whip Office in Mahikeng.
“As the ANC IPC, we welcome the decision of the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) to deploy a veteran of the ANC with extensive experience in both the movement and government, Maape as the new North West Premier.
“The process to deploy Maape followed the interviews of three candidates that were recommended to the NEC by the IPC. As we welcome this decision, the IPC further wishes to convey its gratitude to the outgoing Premier, Mokgoro for his sterling work of guiding the provincial government during the most turbulent times as the Premier,” Chauke said.
He further said the appointment of Maape as the Premier-elect, is intended to entrench the work done by the ANC-led provincial government and expedite the roll-out of radical socio-economic transformation in the province. Chauke added that they firmly believe that Maape is equal to the task expected to be delivered as outlined in their election manifesto.
“We take this opportunity to congratulate Maape and wish him well in his new responsibility. A comrade with his credentials understands that ours is a National Democratic Revolution (NDR) whose objective is to build a South Africa where all our people are free from poverty, unemployment, and inequality.
“Maape was recruited into the ANC underground structures, while a student at Hebron Training College. He is also a former commander of the ANC underground Kgalagadi Machinery, which led to his incarceration on Robben Island in the 1980s. After the democratic dispensation, he later served as the chairperson of the ANC in the former Kgalagadi region,” he said.
Chauke said as part of Maape’s public service career, he served as the Director: RDP and Chief Director: Strategic Planning and Development Unit in the Office of the Premier in North West province. He said Maape was later appointed to the Ministerial Advisory Committee of the Department of Provincial and Local Government and also a member of the Municipal Demarcation Board representing North West.
“He possesses a BA in Psychology and Economics from UNISA, which he completed while in Robben Island. Maape also has completed a BA (Hons) in Development Studies from the University of Western Cape and a BA (Hons) in Economics from UWC.
“He is currently studying with the University of the Witwatersrand for a MM in the field of Governance (Political Development and Economics). With his valuable experience both within the movement and academic expertise, Maape will pursue the objectives of the ANC by improving the lives of the people of the North West,” said Chauke.
However, Mokgoro’s removal was met with resistance from some of the disgruntled ANC members who burnt tyres and shrubs at the ANC Provincial Office, Mpekwa House in Mahikeng today. Most of them were from the North West Gatvol Business Forum.
The NWGBF leader, James Gadinabokao said they are against Mokgoro’s removal.
“Mokgoro is going nowhere, so the ANC IPC must come down and tell the residents of the province what has Mokgoro done wrong. The IPC is lying when they say service delivery has collapsed at the municipalities. Mokgoro has brought stability to the province and his removal is just a factional political battle of Chauke and other criminals who are in the IPC.
“We are happy with the service delivery in the province because Mokgoro has put a system in place to deal with that. We want to reiterate to Chauke that he is the one who should pack his bags and go,” Gadinabokao said.
Meanwhile, Mokgoro has not resigned yet as the North West Premier and the Member of the North West Provincial Legislature. A few months ago, the ANC IPC suspended Mokgoro’s membership after allegations that he created a ‘rogue unit’ in his office and he allegedly voted with the opposition parties during the elections of the new NWPL Chair of Chairs.
Now, Mokgoro and the other four MPLs are facing disciplinary actions for defying ANC instructions.
The Guardian 