Former Premier of the North West province, Supra Mahumapelo. (Paul Botes/M&G)
The ANC’s top six leaders will meet at Luthuli House on Monday where they are expected to discuss the future of North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo.
The party’s national working committee resolved on Wednesday that Mahumapelo must be recalled, and on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered an ultimatum to Mahumapelo: step down or be fired. But more than four days after Ramaphosa’s demand, Mahumapelo is still clinging to power.
Ramaphosa will reportedly lead Monday’s meeting at the party’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg where Mahumapelo’s future as premier is tabled on the agenda.
Residents of Mahikeng, the North West capital, last month shut down the city to protest against poor governance in the province and corruption allegations against Mahumapelo. A delegation from the ANC, including Ramaphosa, met with the provincial leadership at the time, but did not make a decision on whether Mahumapelo would be recalled.
“We want to base our decision on proper analysis, on proper evaluation,” Ramaphosa said following the meeting in April.
The ruling party has faced increased pressure to sack Mahumapelo following accusations his provincial government made a R180-million payment to a Gupta-linked medical technology company Mediosa, despite there being no work done.
In the meantime, the Economic Freedom Fighters has prepared to bring a motion of no confidence in Mahumapelo. An inter-ministerial task team, appointed by Ramaphosa to investigate governance in the North West, is also due to report its findings to Cabinet on Wednesday.
The ANC has not yet confirmed if a special meeting of its national executive committee will be held following the top six meeting, but on Monday morning ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe told the Mail & Guardian that no such meeting had been scheduled to convene.