Mahumapelo announces ‘early retirement’
Embattled North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has announced that he will be stepping down.
Mahumapelo made the announcement at a media briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg.
This comes on the backdrop of numerous protests in the province calling him to step down, as well as mounting allegations of corruption.
"As one embarks on early retirement, from the position of premier in the province, it is my hope... that all those issues that were raised in the State of the Province Address, which centered around matters of greed, corruption and crime will be attended to."
Mahumapelo alluded to the fact that he was pushed out as punishment for supporting Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as ANC leader ahead of the party’s conference in December. He called on the ANC to establish political education in all branches to teach members about forces seeking to destabilise the ANC government.
The now-former North West premier has given two his early retirement resign from stepping down from the position in the province.
Mahumapelo says his reasons for stepping down includes the fact that the investigation in the province implicates him directly and he does not want to be accused of using his position to influence the outcome of the probe.
"It would be very difficult to avoid the accusation that; you are abusing the office in order for you to get at your opponents or defend yourself.
"And if I continue to stay as a premier when some of the counter-revolutionists are embedded in a program disguised a revolutionary council and so on. I will also be accused of using my position in government for self-defence."
Listen below: