Supra Mahumapelo, the embattled premier of South Africa’s North West province, will temporarily vacate his post following a spate of violent protests against his leadership. The ruling African National Congress will appoint an acting premier during Mahumapelo’s leave of absence, Susan Dantjie, the party’s acting provincial secretary, said in comments broadcast by Johannesburg-based television station eNCA. Disgruntlement with Mahumapelo’s leadership has been mounting over his handling of a graft scandal and the sidelining of his ANC rivals in the North West. It remains unclear whether Mahumapelo will retain his position as head of the ANC in the North West if he permanently relinquishes the post of premier, said Theo Venter, a political analyst at North-West University in Potchefstroom, west of Johannesburg. “Mahumapelo is at his most dangerous in the ANC party structures, not as head of the provincial government,” Venter said by phone.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 09, 2018 14:59 UTC