Supra Mahumapelo's ANC membership suspension 10 years too late
29 April 2021
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West notes the ANC’s Provincial Disciplinary Committee (PDC) decision to suspend the party membership of former Premier Supra Mahumapelo for a period of 5 years.
Regrettably, the suspension comes more than 10 years too late.
The fact of the matter is that the North West Province would have been in a better position today if Supra Mahumapelo never happened, and in an even better position if the ANC were voted out of government a decade ago.
Supra Mahumapelo had an arsenal of grand ideas and clever rhetoric, from his Re-branding, Re-Positioning and Renewal (RRR) Vision to “Saam Werk, Saam Trek” and the Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies Retail Economy Project, but in reality, his legacy supported and promoted by the entire ANC, has wreaked complete destruction on the North West at the expense of the people, and for the self-enrichment of cadres throughout his patronage network and the ANC.
For more than 10 years good governance principles were subverted to advance the interests of factional ANC politics instead of the interests of the people of North West.
Small dorpies across the province are in an advanced state of economic ruin, resulting in a devastating unemployment trend over the last decade. More than 750 000 Northwesters are unable to find a job today, an increase of 270 000 more people over the last decade.
In addition, about 1,25 million persons either rely solely on a social grant as the only form of income or to augment their income. More than 300 000 households have reported that they run out of money to buy food in any given month, while 216 000 households have reportedly skipped meals to make their food budget stretch a little further.
Water, sanitation and electricity services are erratic at best, roads are untravellable, and the safety and security of ordinary people across our rural province are threatened by a constant criminal onslaught. Hospitals and clinics are understaffed, under-resourced and dilapidated while the education system constantly fails at capacitating learners with the knowledge and skills needed for a prosperous and successful adult life.
The Auditor-General’s reports serve as evidence of the billions lost over the last decade through irregular, unauthorised, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure. Money that could have been better applied to improve the lives and livelihoods of the people of North West.
The longer the ANC stays in government in North West, the deeper the destruction on people's lives and livelihoods. On 27 October 2021, the people of North West can take back ownership of this beautiful province and vote DA, so that we can rebuild what the ANC has destroyed.
Issued by Leon Basson, DA North West Provincial Leader, 29 April 2021
