Supra Mahumapelo back in charge of North West after court ruling – report

The ANC has honoured the High Court in Johannesburg’s ruling that the disbandment of the North West provincial executive committee (PEC) in August was unlawful and that it should be reinstated.

Former PEC chair and premier Supra Mahumapelo is now back in charge. The ANC’s provincial task team (PTT) in North West has now also been dissolved, with its decisions reportedly also subject to reversal.

The ANC had earlier indicated it planned to appeal the court ruling, which was brought by a disgruntled group including Mahumapelo.

News24 has now reported that North West ANC spokesperson Gerald Modise told them the PTT’s decisions would be nullified.

A team led by Deputy President David Mabuza has gone to North West to broker what’s being referred to as a “peace deal” between rival provincial factions in the party.

Judge Fayeeza Kathree-Setiloane ordered on Wednesday that Mahumapelo and his PEC be reinstated within two days of her order and that the ANC should pay for legal costs.

The North West PEC was disbanded following protests in the province and led to former premier Mahumapelo’s forced resignation. He was replaced by Job Mokgoro.

The court found the national executive committee’s (NEC) decision to disband the PEC was procedurally unfair and a breach of the party’s constitution. The decision was also in violation of Mahumapelo’s section 19 constitutional rights.

The NEC met with the reinstated North West PEC over the weekend to discuss a way forward with elections looming on May 8.

(Compiled by Gopolang Chawane and Charles Cilliers)

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