Lungani Zungu
Job Mokgoro finally resigned as North West premier a day after meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday.
His resignation ended weeks of playing hide-and-seek with the ANC which deployed him to the position of premier.
“On Wednesday, I met with President Ramaphosa, and I will be submitting my letter of resignation to the Speaker of the North West Legislature,” said Mokgoro via Zoom.
He said he was doing hard and unfashionable work for the good of citizens and prided himself on prioritizing the needs of the people over the private interests of individuals.
Mokgoro was premier of the crisis-riddled North West province for three years.
He has been at loggerheads with Hlomane Chauke, the coordinator of the North West interim provincial committee (IPC) over his resignation.
Last week, Mokgoro accused Chauke of targeting him after he announced that the committee had decided to remove him as premier.
The knives have been out for Mokgoro since last year after the ANC hauled him before a disciplinary hearing for defying the party.
Even a series of protests by his supporters were not enough to save him.
Mokgoro said he will continue to serve the people of North West in other capacities.
Former Robben Island prisoner Bushy Maape was announced as Mokgoro’s replacement, but his swearing-in was delayed as Mokgoro dug his heels in and refused to resign demanding reasons for his axing.
Maape, a known backer of Ramaphosa, is now expected to be sworn in in the next few days.
He was appointed after undergoing a rigorous interviewing process.
Others interviewed for the top job included legislature speaker Suzan Dantjie and Finance MEC Motlalepula Rosho.
Image source: @MailandGuardian
