ANCYL NEC member says protests in the North West are justifiable

ANC Youth League (ANCYL) national executive committee (NEC) member Ndumiso Mokako said, based on the available evidence and the allegations that have been made, North West residents were justified in protesting and calling for Premier Supra Mahumapelo to step down.

The protests erupted in Montshiwa, Mahikeng, on Wednesday, and continued until today, leading to a shutdown of the area.

A bus was set alight, vehicles stoned and roads blockaded by protesters calling for Mahumapelo to vacate his position because of a failure to adequately deliver services.

It is reported that the police are maintaining a heavy presence as the protests continue.

Mokako said he was of the view that ANC members and leaders accused of corruption must have their day in court and that, while facing legal charges, they should discontinue being of service to the party or the government to avoid tarnishing the image of the organisation.

“I am saying that with the evidence that stands in front of us, the people of North West are justifiable to be angry. All the corruption allegations that are levelled against the provincial government in the North West give the people of North West a legitimate right to be angry and to protest in the manner in which they are protesting, they must just not burn public property,” Mokako said in an SABC interview.

Yesterday, ANC leadership, led by the party’s secretary-general Ace Magashule and his deputy, Jessie Duarte, met with the organisation’s MPLs in the North West to talk about the latter group’s plans to support an EFF motion of no confidence in Mahumapelo.

The EFF motion of no confidence in him was called off on Tuesday following a request from the EFF for the motion to be deferred pending the outcome of an urgent high court application the party lodged to have voting done by way of a secret ballot.

The premier, who is also the chairperson of the ANC in the North West, is also accused of sowing divisions among party members in the province.

The Hawks raided Mahumapelo’s offices recently investigating allegations of corruption.