ANC deploys Bushy Maape as North West premier-elect
The African National Congress (ANC) has called on Job Mokgoro to tender his resignation as North West premier as the party deploys a new candidate in his seat.
On Tuesday, the ANC’s Interim Provincial Committee (IPC) addressed media on the changes to the leadership structure in the embattled province.
The IPC, tasked with rebuilding party structures, used the briefing to reaffirm its plans to clean-up within its ranks.
IPC coordinator Hlomani Chauke named Bushy Maape as the North West’s designated premier.
The process to deploy Maape followed the interviews of three candidates that were recommended to the national structures by the IPC, including MEC for Finance Motlalepula Rosho and the speaker of North West Legislature Susana Dantjie.
“The appointment of cadre Maape as the premier-elect is intended to entrench the work done by the ANC-led provincial government and expedite the rollout of radical socio-economic transformation in the province,” said Chauke.
“In working together with the IPC and various provincial stakeholders, cadre Bushy will lead from the front as we continue to battle Covid-19 and economic challenges. The IPC firmly believes that cadre Maape is equal to the task expected to be delivered as outlined in our election manifesto,” Chauke added.
According to Chauke, the decision to side with Maape forms part of the governing party’s strategy to bring in leaders with qualifications; and not just political muscle.
“With his valuable experience both within the movement and academic expertise, Cde Maape will pursue the objectives of the ANC by improving the lives of the people of the North West.”
The announcement of Maape’s deployment comes before Mokgoro’s resignation.
But Chauke seemed certain there wouldn’t be any push back from Mokgoro.
“It’s a process, including the process that will lead to the swearing in of comrade Bushy.
“We are on course that’s why we are not worried because those are administrative processes and I think by the end of business we would have resolved all those processes.”
Chauke also dismissed claims of bad blood between the structure and Mokgoro, who was noticeably absent from the media briefing.
The 64-year-old Maape sat adjacent to Chauke.
“These interventions we are doing are not the purging of other person but it is a response of the African National Congress when we see that things are not happening therefore we have to intervene.”
