The 64-year-old struggle stalwart, former Robben Island prisoner, and IPC member, Bushy Maape, was sworn in as MPL on Wednesday following former Premier Job Mokgoro’s resignation both as premier and MPL. 

The IPC coordinator, Hlomani Chauke, says Maape brings extensive knowledge and skills, complemented by much-needed experience. Chauke says the experience is needed for the historic duty of fundamentally altering the circumstances under which the people in the province live. Currently the MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, is the acting premier following the resignation of Mokgoro.

Maape is now expected to be voted in as the Premier on Tuesday 7 September, after the debate in the Provincial Legislature. The communication manager at the Legislature, Sethunya Kgafela, told OFM News that if Maape is elected as the new premier, he will be sworn in by the North West President Judge. The swearing-in of Maape comes a few days after the former premier Job Mokgoro's controversial resignation following a fallout between him and the ANC's Interim Provincial Committee.

Maape's name was gazetted on Tuesday, prior to his swearing-in as MPL on Wednesday. Currently, the MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, is acting as premier, following Mokgoro's resignation.

Mokgoro also resigned at a time when his ANC membership was suspended by the ANC's IPC for allegedly voting with opposition parties in the Legislature.

He replaced the former premier, Supra Mahumapelo, who resigned in 2018, following sporadic violent protests in Mahikeng over a lack of service delivery. Mokgoro has previously refused to resign both as premier and MPL, whilst demanding that the ANC IPC apologise to him for how it handled this issue.

During his resignation, in a virtual interview with NewzRoom Afrika and other media houses, Mokgoro said he was forced out of office in haste for no reason.

OFM News

OFM News