Mahumapelo says he’s being targeted through his son

ANC North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo said allegations that Denel improperly awarded his son a R1-million bursary were an attempt to tarnish his image.

The aerospace and defence technology parastatal said yesterday the awarding of the bursary to Mahumapelo’s son, Oarabile, had not been in contravention of the company’s policy.

Oarabile Mahumapelo was awarded an R1.1-million bursary to study at a prestigious aviation school in Port Alfred.

The premier said his son had been mistaken for him because they shared the name Supra.

“His name is Supra Mahumapelo Jr. They assumed it was me,” the premier said.

Mahumapelo was addressing a crowd of ANC members yesterday after an Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) motion of no confidence in him was called off.

The speaker of the provincial legislature, Susan Dantjie, postponed the debate 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.

Last week, Dantjie announced the voting would be done through an open ballot system, but the EFF believes voting should be done through a secret ballot because some ANC MPLs are said to be against the premier.

“They are prosecuting the child over false allegations […] so he cannot focus on his studies,” Mahumapelo said.

Meanwhile, yesterday the Democratic Alliance laid charges of corruption and fraud against the premier and Denel CEO Zwelakhe Ntshepe after reports surfaced that the CEO had signed off the bursary for Mahumapelo’s son without following due process.

The party said the school where Oarabile was currently studying did not form part of Denel’s list of accredited schools.

Furthermore, EWN reports that Mahumapelo claimed attempts to unseat him as the premier were being driven by ANC members who supported President Cyril Ramaphosa during the party’s elective conference last year, who now sought to rid the organisation of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s backers.

It is further reported that a meeting will be held today between some ANC members in the North West legislature with a delegation from the party’s headquarters, Luthuli House, to address issues within the party’s provincial structure.

ANC Youth League president Collen Maine last week accused Mahumapelo of introducing him to the controversial Gupta family, which has long been marred by allegations of state capture.

Last month the Hawks conducted a search and seizure at Mahumapelo’s office investigating a case of alleged corruption and fraud within the premier’s office.

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