JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - NOVEMBER 07: African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Maine during a media briefing at the Luthuli House on November 07, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. While answering questions regarding his relationship with the Guptas, Maine said whether he visits the Guptas' home or not isn't anyone's business as he sees no problem with this. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Felix Dlangamandla)
ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Maine’s “bromance” with North West premier and ANC provincial chairman Supra Mahumapelo is said to be over.
Maine is now apparently campaigning to remove Mahumapelo in order to “liberate” himself from the premier’s influence, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.
According to party insiders, who spoke to the paper on condition of anonymity, the ANCYL leader has reportedly switched allegiance to powerful ANC Mpumalanga chairman David Mabuza.
The youth league’s deputy president, Desmond Moela, was said to be behind the move.
Approached for comment on the rumours, Maine did not confirm or deny the fallout between him and Mahumapelo to theSunday Times. He told the paper his relationship with the North West premier was not “romantic”.
“What has changed is that I am based in Pretoria and he is based in Mahikeng and our relationship has never been a romantic one.
“I can’t relate to a comrade the way I relate to my wife. Our relationship is not a romantic one where we are cuddling every day. No. Our relationship has always been political,” Maine was quoted as saying.
Mahumapelo helped Maine become the chairperson of the ANCYL in North West and the president of the league in 2015. But the cracks in their relationship emerged when Maine was an MEC until March 2015 under Mahumapelo, according to party insiders.
When approached for comment, Mahumapelo was not available.
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