Picture: Former North West Premier, Bushy Maape
By OBAKENG MAJE
20 May 2026 – The North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi will lead the Executive Council of the provincial government in paying homage to the family of former North West Premier, the late Kaobitsa Bushy Maape. Maape passed away on 16 May 2026, in Johannesburg after a short illness.
Mokgosi said the entourage will compromise the political troika of both Naledi and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Municipalities, Heads of Departments as well as the Executive of the North West House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders. He said they will visit Maape’s family on Wednesday at 12pm in Vryburg.
The South African National Civic Association (SANCO) in the North West described Maape as a torch bearer, a transformation agent, a development activist and a visionary leader who sought to impact communities.
SANCO Provincial Interim Committee Convenor, Paul Sebegoe said that Maape will be remembered as a unifier, human rights advocate and a social justice activist whose passion was to serve and make a difference. Sebegoe conveyed condolences to the Maape family, comrades, business associates, friends as well as his members of his Provincial Executive Council, the African National Congress (ANC), ANC Veterans League, MK liberation Struggle Military Veterans Association, the Mass Democratic Movement, various constituencies and broader communities he had served across the province.
“Comrade Bushy has left an indelible mark in the sand of time as a forthright, assertive but humble leader whose tenure as Premier was defined by progress as well as remarkable milestones that include improved audit outcomes and rollout of the accelerated service delivery outreach programme aimed at responding to the plights of our communities.
“He had appreciated the enormity of the inherited infrastructure backlog, hence he pursued partnership with businesses such as Noordwes Koorperasie (NWK) to unlock the province’s economic potential,” he said.
Sebegoe further said Maape was goal driven hence he presided over the implementation of post Section 100 intervention action plans like a hawk hence he managed to stabilize governance. He added that as someone with experience as a businessman, he saw opportunities where others saw hurdles, hope where others saw hopelessness.
“He was neither a pessimist nor self-serving but a prisoner of hope, a true patriot who had dedicated his entire life to the liberation struggle and worked tirelessly for the betterment of the lives of those whose life experiences knew nothing but exclusion and deprivation.
“Maape had served with integrity and demonstrated total commitment to advance the vision of the Freedom Charter to create a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, prosperous and peaceful society,” said Sebegoe.
He said Maape leaves behind a proud legacy of selfless service as he strove to entrench good governance and financial accountability as the hallmark of his administration. Sebegoe said a befitting tribute would be to deepen transformation, ensure that the work that he started to rebuild trust in public institutions as part of the ANC’s renewal is sustained and that the bridges he built continue to work for the economic recovery, growth as well as development of the province.
“Maape had served as a Chief Director for Strategic Planning and Development Unit during the 1st Administration under then Premier Popo Molefe before venturing into consultancy through his Kgatelopele Institute that focused on municipal transformation and economic development.
“He had among others pioneered the establishment of the Ruth Mompati Foundation, led the Provincial Chapter of the ABSA Bantu Bonke Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Deal that focused on rural women entrepreneurs and young people in the province working alongside struggle veteran and businessman Tokyo Sexwale,” he said.
Meanwhile, Maape will be accorded a special provincial official funeral category one.
The Guardian 