ANC North West NWC meetings collapse

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The ANC’s second attempt to restore calm in the troubled North West province, failed on Thursday.

Members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Committee (NEC) were expected to face off with angry party members who were relentless in their call for embattled premier, Supra Mahumapelo, to go.

But three out of the four scheduled meetings between the senior members and party structures in the province collapsed.

Some party leaders have blamed the spectacular failure on ANC secretary general Ace Magashule’s planning abilities.

The ANC leaders were forced to return to the province to quell violent protests and growing impatience with the party’s indecision about Mahumapelo’s fate.

In the Dr Ruth Mompati region, senior members failed to show up because the meeting was planned in a far-flung area, near the border with Botswana. An NWC member told News24 that the meeting collapsed because the party failed to provide reliable transport to the area.

Meanwhile, in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Ngaka Modiri Molema regions, the meetings were called off because they were dominated by party members calling for Mahumapelo to go.

Only the Bojanala region meeting went ahead. It almost collapsed when members arrived and demanded to be allowed to enter. NEC deployee Violet Siwela allowed all present to attend.

An ANC branch leader, who attended the Dr Kenneth Kaunda regional meeting, said: “Some comrades were closed off outside. They had a legitimate reason to attend, yet this REC [Regional Executive Committee] sat handpicking people to be allowed into the meeting.”

He said only the ANC’s head of organising, Senzo Mchunu, attended the meeting.

“Ace [Magashule] didn’t even make his own meeting,” the branch leader added.

Clash

News24 understand the meeting collapsed following a clash at the lodge, which many referred to as a “lion’s den”. Outnumbered Mahumapelo supporters, including provincial executive committee members, walked out of the meeting. Only one PEC member, Kim Medupi, remained behind.

“They bring in bouncers to deal with us and call for a meeting far away at a lodge where lions actually roam free. This is a sign that this was all orchestrated. We know where we stand. We don’t want Supra. We decided on this last year already,” said the branch leader.

Mothusi Shupinyane from Ward 30 in Mahikeng, attended the Ngaka Modiri Molema regional meeting and said NEC and NWC members Obed Bapela and Dakota Legoete arrived for the meeting, but that Nomvula Mokonyane and Meokgo Matuba were nowhere to be seen.

Shupinyane added that, although the meeting started, it collapsed while the regional secretary was delivering a report on the state of the party in the area.

“The venue was far. Some people who were seen to be against Supra had to organise their own transport and means to get to the venue. The meeting literally collapsed when those comrades arrived,” he told News24.

Some people, including Legoete, just ran away and that was the end of the meeting, added Shupinyane.

Before the meeting ended, the regional secretary managed to highlight what most ANC members knew about the state of the organisation.

“Boy Noko confirmed what people had been saying. There is no ANC in this region. Only 33 out of 104 branches are in good standing,” said Shupinyane.

News24 understands those meant to attend the Dr Ruth Mompati regional meeting did not even bother, including its NWC and NEC deployees.

Some said that the venue close to the Botswana border was simply too far.

‘Supra needs to be removed with immediate effect’

Even though ANC members at the Bojanala regional meeting got off to a rocky start, they eventually kept the much-needed meeting going.

“We are honestly proceeding well. We have said all structures which were fraudulently put together must collapse. We’ve called for the PEC to also be dissolved with immediate effect,” said one ANC branch member who was still at the meeting. It continued well into the night.

“There’s an RTT (regional task team) which is completely biased. It must also go,” said the ANC member.

“Most importantly though, is [that] Supra needs to be removed with immediate effect. We can no longer go on with that man,” he added.

Attempts to reach the ANC for comment were unsuccessful.

The failed meetings are fuelling growing frustrations and putting pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove Mahumapelo.

Mahumapelo is facing a palace revolt, supported by the ANC Veteran’s League and alliance partners the SACP and Sanco.

The Veteran’s League is demanding that Mahumapelo be removed, his provincial executive committee be dissolved, and an interim structure brought in.

It submitted a detailed report to the party’s leadership more than a month ago, before violent protests erupted in the capital Mahikeng and spread to other towns.

Source:www.news24.com

MAIMANE: NORTH WEST NEEDS SERIOUS GOVERNANCE OVERHAUL

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Maimane

DA leader Mmusi Maimane visited Mahikeng after violent protests last week. Residents have called for Mahumapelo’s resignations and accused him of corruption.

MAHIKENG – Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane says the North West needs a serious governance overhaul, one without Premier Supra Mahumapelo.

Maimane visited Mahikeng after violent protests last week. Residents have called for Mahumapelo’s resignations and accused him of corruption.

Maimane says that residents have legitimate concerns of maladministration, corruption and poor service delivery.

He has urged residents to think much harder when they vote next year.

“The ANC has its own internal factions. It’s one faction versus another and the people are being left out.”

The DA leader has visited the families of those who claimed that they were brutalised by police.

Maimane has promised to press criminal charges against law enforcement officers if need be.

Meanwhile, the South African Community Party’s Madoda Sombatha says change in leadership is necessary, but he still believes in the alliance.

While the ANC is yet to take a decision on the premier, both the SACP and the DA agree Mahumapelo must go as a matter of urgency.

CALM FOR NOW

Mahikeng has been calm following days of violent protests last week.

It is business as usual, with taxis seen ferrying passengers across the town.

No roads have been blocked and traffic to moving freely.

Some shops are also opening. Workers could be seen waiting outside stores.

Meanwhile, 23 people who were arrested during last week’s violence are expected to appear in court.

Police are still on high alert and say they’re prepared to intervene should tensions flare up again.

The ANC is expected to finally put the matter to rest soon by announcing its decision on Mahumapelo’s position as premier.

Source: http://www.ewn.co.za 

Mahumapelo calls for calmness amid protests

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By BAKANG MOKOTO

North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo said he is concern after some of his detractors are using service delivery protests to settle a political score. This came after protests erupted in Mahikeng and other areas across the province.

Foreign-owned shops were looted, while some properties were vandalized. Few cars torched during the service delivery protest duped #SupraMustFall. North West Provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setsambung toldSAFM that Mahumapelo is extremely concerned about the situation that is prevailing now.

“Mahumapelo characterizes this as a political campaign that is manifesting itself in a form of service delivery. There are also individuals who continue to use young people to resort to criminality. There are several stores that were looted today in Mahikeng and innocent people who wanted to go to work were stopped and intimidated.

“It is unfortunate seeing people turning these protests into criminal activities. There is an ongoing strike action by members of NEHAWU in the department of health. However, Mahumapelo has intervened by putting together a team led by a leader of Government Business, MEC Sello Lehari,” he said.

Setswambung added that the task team has met with NEHAWU representatives last week. He said that another meeting is scheduled to take a place next week.

“We want to ensure that all issues raised by NEHAWU are resolved so that our people can stop suffering. The suffering is the result of NEHAWU members not reporting for duty in various clinics and hospitals.

“As the provincial government, we are hopeful that the meeting between intervention team and NEHAWU will yield necessary results. The main objective is to ensure that our people do not continue to be stranded across all health-cares in the province. The premier has also put in place several engagements to address service delivery in municipalities across the province,” Setswambung said.

He said there are initiatives such as Agriculture, Culture and Tourism (ACT), Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies (VTSD), Reconciliation, Healing and Renewal (RHR), Setsokotsane and Saamtrek-saamwerk initiatives. Setswambung further said the province uses these as a way of connecting with the people.

“So, we call on protesters to refrain from using violence as that infringes other people’s rights. Mahumapelo exercises the open door policy and he has set up various platforms for people to engage with him. He is willing to take responsibility for anything that he feels that he is responsibly.

“However, at this stage, we are concern that people are using service delivery to settle political score,” he said.

North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Dr Mpho Motlhabane appeals to residents of Mahikeng and the surrounding communities to be on the lookout amid continuing violent protests.

Motlhabane said: “There is an element of criminality on the protests and residents are urged to remain calm, exercise caution and stay indoors as much as possible for their safety and security. We have observed that there are certain individuals who are taking advantage of the current situation to commit crime.

“We are appealing to communities to stay away from these illegal protests to avoid finding themselves on the wrong side of the law. While citizens do have the right to protest, that must be done peacefully, within the framework of the law and not to loot from shops as well as damaging of private properties.”

The African National Congress (ANC) in Bokone Bophirima said is concerned aboutthe sporadic protests that started in Mahikeng and have escalated into lawlessness and violence.

the sporadic protests that started in Mahikeng and have escalated into lawlessness and violence.

ANC acting Provincial secretary, Sussana Dantjie said: “While there are often genuine service delivery protests, we as the ANCregard these latest acts of violence in Mahikeng as political opportunism disguised as community outrage. This is evident in the main call of those
who have been quoted in the media attacking ANC Provincial Chairperson, Supra Mahumapelo, who is also Premier of our province, using untested
allegations of corruption.

“They are continuing on the same trajectory of the #SupraMustFall campaign started by those who once called themselves the North West Business Forum and have now changed to their name to the Revolutionary Council. This is the same call that is now being used by

some opposition parties in the province.”

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Ramaphosa to visit North West amid protests

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By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI

ANC

President, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to visit North West on Friday amid protests.

ANC national spokesperson, Pule Mabe said in a statement that Ramaphosa will address an urgent meeting convened with structures of the ANC, the Leagues, Alliance and the ANC Caucus in the North West province.

Mabe said: ”

Ramaphosa will be accompanied by ANC SG, Cde Ace Magashule, the DSG , Cde Jessie Duarte and ANC NEC members deployed to the North West province.

”

He said that a meeting will be convened in Mahikeng at 12pm.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

Security Guard killed, two injured in cash-in-transit robbery in Klerksdorp

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A security guard was killed and another guard and a bystander people were injured during a cash-in-transit (CIT) robbery in Klerksdorp on Thursday morning.

Hawks spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said the robbery happened at 11.30am.

A truck from G4S Cash Solutions was ambushed after collecting money from Standard Bank on the corner of Kock and OR Tambo Street.

The armed robbers‚ who wore overalls and were armed with AK47s‚ R5s and pistols‚ stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

“It happened immediately after they just collected the money [from the bank] and they were ambushed.”

Rikhotso said the robbers fired shots into the air and forced the two security guards to open the back of the truck before shooting them at close range.

One was fatally injured and the second was rushed to hospital. The driver was unharmed.

A bystander was also shot during the robbery and taken to hospital.

Source: http://www.timeslive.co.za

‘There’s nothing to worry about’ – Mahumapelo amid reports of violent protests in Mahikeng

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Mahumapelo 2

The situation has reportedly gotten tense in Mahikeng, where residents had earlier taken to the street calling on Supra Mahumapelo to stand down as Premier of the North West on Wednesday.

Some residents have reported hearing gunshots and seeing ambulances around the area. Unit 14, where the premier lives, is also said to have been affected.

When contacted for comment, Mahumapelo said “there’s nothing going on. There’s nothing to worry about”.

The premier told News24 there were rumours that he would be attacked and that, as a result, neighbours went out to “do voluntary defence”.

“There was a rumour that people are going to attack the house. On their own, neighbours went to do voluntary defence, I am told. Remember, I don’t stay in a government presidential guesthouse. I took a decision to stay with the people.”

Mahumapelo said his family at his home was safe and there was no damage to his house. 

He was not at home but had been on ANC business since Tuesday.

Source: http://www.news24.com

 

‘Comrade Collen Maine is a sell-out’

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“COMRADE Collen Maine is a sell-out. He doesn’t deserve to be called a comrade.”

These were the words of deputy secretary of the ANC Youth League, Thandi Moraka.

She was speaking at the memorial service for Mam’ Winnie Madikizela-Mandela at Regina Mundi Church in Rockville, Soweto, yesterday.

She said Maine does not deserve to lead the youth league.

“Maine wants to be a cabinet minister by hook or by crook and that’s why he’s grovelling to President Cyril Ramphosa,” he said.

“We call on comrade Maine to resign as a matter of urgency.”

Moraka said this after Maine said he was introduced to the Guptas by North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo.

Maine said he was ready to reveal everything if he was asked to. He also pleaded with ANC supporters not to involve themselves in the matter, because he would be going to court alone.

Mahumapelo is known as Maine’s mentor.

Moraka also lashed out at former president Thabo Mbeki and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

“Thabo Mbeki never tasted the cruelty of the apartheid regime.

“Mbeki, if you hate Mam’ Winnie, you hate us. Church leaders, we ask you to pray for Archbishop Tutu’s repentance.

“We want Tutu to tell us what really happened at the TRC.”

– Daily Sun

A baby ‘shot’ during #SupraMustFall mayhem in Mahikeng

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DSC_3582

Picture: (Amogelang Lekgowe with her baby, Leatile who was allegedly shot at by police during protest)

By BAKANG MOKOTO

Two month-old baby, Leatile Kegowe was allegedly shot in the eye by rubber bullets during #SupraMustFall protest at Ramosadi village, in Mahikeng on Wednesday. The members of the community embarked on a protest against lack of service delivery and torched a bus.

A minibus taxi was also torched in the process. Most local clinics are closed amid NEHAWU strike. The two month-long strike forced communities around Mahikeng to find an alternative for medical attention at Bophelong District Hospital in Mahikeng. One community member, Lentikile Modisane from Montshioa village said the non-operational of clinics causes unnecessary long queues at Bophelong District Hospital.

“We urge NEHAWU to have the interest of the people at heart. They have shut down Healthcare Centres simply because they demand the removal of North West Premier, Supra Mahumapelo. Many people will die if there is no solution to the matter. The Health department must also be liable and open those clinics,” Modisane said.

Picture: A bus was torched during protest in Mahikeng

Some of community members said Mahumapelo must be removed because his administration is marred with fraud, maladministration and corruption.

Leatile’s mother, Amogelang Lekgowe (17) said: “My uncle, Kabelo Kesupang was holding my daughter in the living room, while I was busy making breakfast. We heard gunshots and I ran into my bedroom. My uncle saw blood coming out of the child and called me. We realized that my daughter was shot.

“When we went outside, we saw the police in our yard. My mother, Keneilwe Kesupang approached them and informed them (police) about what happened. However, they (police) just ignored us and walked away. There were three rubber bullet cases in the house and a broken window.”

Keneilwe Kesupang who is pregnant, said she was also shot in the stomach. Kesupang said she is worried because the rubber bullet might affect her unborn child.

“I am very disappointed after we were ignored by the police. They had no audacity to even take the baby to the hospital. We went to the streets with a bleeding child and the female traffic cops who were patrolling the area assisted us by taking us to Bophelong District Hospital.

“We were discharged after receiving medication. However, the cops broke the window and shot at us while we were in our own house. We will open a criminal case against the cops and take it from there,” Kesupang said.

Kabelo Kesupang (27) who was also shot at said: “The cops pulled me to the ground after I questioned them why they shot at us. I believe that someone must be held accountable for their unscrupulous behaviour. They also shot me in the leg at a close range because I questioned their motive in shooting us.”

North West Police spokesperson, Colonel Adele Myburgh said: “One person was arrested for public violence at this stage. We are not sure what the cause of the protest was. One group alleged that it was because of service delivery and another said it was because of unhappiness about the Premier. No case/report was received by police regarding a shooting of an infant. We can confirm that no injuries were reported and it is against our policy to shoot people while in their houses.”

The high visibility of police is seen in the area as they monitor the situation.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

  

 

‘Dear Oros, Thanks To You, The ANCYL Is A Joke’

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Open letter to Collen Maine: “You have no interest in the youth of this country, and, in addition, I am convinced that you have no inkling of the awesome responsibility thrust upon you.”

Open letter to Mr Collen Maine and the African National Congress Youth League [ANCYL] Leadership

Dear Mr Maine,

You might note that I chose not to refer to you as a comrade, let alone as president of the ANC Youth League. I will elaborate on this further in this letter.

For the record, I have long suspected (and I doubt that I am the only one) that you have no interest in the youth of this country, and, in addition, I am convinced that you have no inkling of the awesome responsibility thrust upon you. The Youth League used to comprise the best young people in society. Under your leadership, it has become the source of many jokes.

You, in particular, have become synonymous with a famous juice, and most recently the song “Confessions“. Come to think of it, to say under your leadership the ANCYL has been horribly diluted would be the perfect metaphor. Fortunately, as Marcus Cicero noted, “history is indeed the witness of the times and the light of truth”, and your incapacity is revealed by examining one recent historical event.

For instance, the Fees Must Fall protests must rank as one of the most pivotal examples of youth activism during your term. Instead of commending young people for seeking the fulfilment of the Freedom Charter, you condemned us. Put it this way: you parroted the words of the older generation, calling your own constituency “counter-revolutionary” and praised Comrade Supra [Mahumapelo, North West premier] for your mysterious rise to your position.

As you said: “What you must write when you write a story is that there is one leader who has made me who I am, and his name is Supra Mahumapelo. If you want to call him premier league, it is fine, but he has made me who I am politically” – so, while your constituents sought to fulfil the letter of the Freedom Charter, you were begging for a plate of curry in Saxonwold. I doubt Comrade Supra, the man you so deeply admired, dragged you there kicking and screaming – especially since you literally had more important things to do. Where was your revolutionary consciousness?

Call for an early congress in June and ask the Youth League to relieve you of the awesome responsibility you have treacherously failed to discharge.

And so, it is for this reason that you are simply not worthy of being referred to as a comrade. A comrade is someone who sacrifices their skills and time in order to achieve the collective aspirations of society. Moreover, this is someone who shares in the convictions of that particular collective. This clearly cannot be said of you – in fact, the opposite is true

You stand directly against the youth. As such, even at a conceptual level, you ought not to enter Luthuli House, let alone in the name of the youth.

In some way, I must admit, I think we are deeply indebted to the spirit of Mama Winnie Madikizela- Mandela (as her revolutionary soul rests in power) for sweeping through this nation and unravelling the hypocrites among us masquerading as vanguards of the people. Her passing has exposed a number of things that are severely problematic in our movement.

Foremost among those is the pervasive patriarchy in our movement – even mediocre, uninspiring males like you can lead this glorious movement. I shudder to imagine how society and comrades would have rejected and ejected you if you were female. I mean, your mediocrity is self-evident during this very sad time in the history of the liberation movement.

By the way, and I know you would not know this because you are not a youth, there is a poll doing the rounds on whether we should refer to your tribute (or lack thereof) as a remix of Usher’s “My Confessions” or the melodic sifila (church hymn) “Diphiri Le Makuntu” (the results are coming soon). Anyway, since you are in the mood for confessing – take it a step further and resign.

Call for an early congress in June, and ask the Youth League to relieve you of the awesome responsibility you have treacherously failed to discharge. I have no doubt that there are many ANCYL members out there waiting for a moment to realign the movement with society. Step aside so that the youth can ensure that membership in the Youth League becomes the highest honour for a young person in post-apartheid South Africa.

This country now more than ever needs an ANCYL that will fearlessly criticise the status quo and formulate answers for the future – not a Youth League that will cuddle between handlers for their security and self-enrichment and preservation. Under your watch, the ANCYL has become like a horribly diluted Oros that leaves a very bad aftertaste.

In honour of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and other female revolutionaries we should probably look at the many capable female comrades in our movement to lead us. This should start with the youth.

I (and I am prone to think many others as well) can no longer muster the courage to mention your name in the same sentence as luminaries and former presidents of the ANCYL such as Anton Lembede, Robert Sobukwe, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo, Ashby Mda, Jackie Selebi, Peter Mokaba, Lulu Johnson, Malusi Gigaba, Fikile Mbalula and even Julius Malema.

P.S. There is a great deal of masculinity in that list. In honour of Mama Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and other female revolutionaries, we should probably look at the many capable female comrades in our movement to lead us. This should start with the youth.

Yours in restoring the people’s youth movement

Chrispin Phiri

@PhiriCJ is a member of the African National Congress and the ANCYL and writes in his personal capacity.

I will repay Denel for my son’s bursary if I have to – Supra Mahumapelo

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Beleaguered North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo says he is ready to repay Denel for his son’s pilot training bursary if such a decision is taken.

Mahumapelo has also urged his detractors to leave his son out of their political battles and face him directly.

It was reported over the weekend that Mahumapelo’s 20-year-old son, Supra Jr, applied late for a bursary only after the final deadline of October 2016, but his application was approved nevertheless and he was awarded with a bursary of just over R1 million to train as a pilot for 17 months.

Addressing a group of “ANC members” who marched to the North West legislature to express their support for him to remain as premier amid an Economic Freedom Fighters sponsored motion of no confidence on him in Mahikeng earlier on Tuesday, Mahumapelo said he was setting the record straight.

He said his son had “applied like any other child so he can fly an aircraft … now they’re after him because they hate his father”.

“Young man wants to become part of the few black pilots; but we want to ensure we destroy him before he can even start with his studies. I think we should not be subjecting other politicians’ children to this kind of a situation when we don’t like their parents,” he said.

“They must leave (my son) out of these political battles. They must face me and not go fiddle with what my son is doing at Denel.”

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has reportedly ordered an investigation into the bursary saga.

Mahumapelo denied he could have used his stature to influence the outcome of his son’s application, saying his son applied on his own and as a father he congratulated him when informed him he was successful.

But he said he would repay Denel if that decision was ever reached.

“… If the Denel board and the minister can decide we must give back what belongs to Denel, I will talk to my family and we’ll give them what belongs to them. But it will be very odd that there are other children that were children in the same category, subjected to the same process and were given bursaries,” he said.

“They’re trying to defocus my son from his studies (but) I told him to be like his father – remain unshakable and focus on his studies. I urge people not to come after my son … they must come directly to me; I will face them. I am not afraid of anyone. Sometimes when you’re quiet people think you’re a coward; we need to fight this thing politically and not physically.”

Meanwhile, Mahumapelo said there were people in the ANC who were jackals in sheepskins and were gunning for him and working with the opposition.

“The problem we have is ANC members who are members of the provincial legislature (MPLs) who go around under the cover of darkness to ask the EFF to push for a motion of no confidence because they can’t face (me). They say to the EFF, ‘we can’t face this leader of the ANC, please try him that side and ask the speaker to allow us to vote in secret so we could work with you to remove him,’” Mahumapelo said.

“There are ANC MPLs who are just a little number; not more than 10 of them. Those are the ones who are working with the EFF to remove me. Who do they think they are?”

He said the biggest mistake the ANC made was not acting against those Members of Parliament who voted with the opposition for President Jacob Zuma’s removal.

“Today they think they can do it anywhere in the country because they did it in Cape town and they think they can do it here and in municipalities. There is order and discipline in the ANC and so we can’t allow people to do as they please in the ANC,” Mahumapelo said.

He said he was not having sleepless nights over the EFF’s motion because the opposition did not have the required numbers to oust him.

Source: http://www.cypress.co.za