Lungani Zungu
Supra Mahumapelo is certainly not going down without a fight – but will his last-ditch bid to overturn the suspension succeed?
He told Scrolla.Africa this week that he appealed the five-year suspension of his ANC membership with the ANC national disciplinary committee on Wednesday.
He will also not go to former president Thabo Mbeki for mentorship as recommended by the committee.
“There’s no reason to go to Comrade Thabo Mbeki. This recommendation smacks of disrespect towards the former president and myself. I will not go to him,” he said.
His suspension comes ahead of the highly anticipated party elective conference set for next December.
Mahumapelo is a close ally of former president Jacob Zuma and Ace Magashule.
Mahumapelo’s name is already being mentioned in Magashule’s slate as the secretary-general, should Magashule run for the position of president next year.
Both these leaders have not said whether they would run for election.
He addressed ANC branches in the North West yesterday, a province he once led as premier and ANC chairperson. His supporters referred to him as the incoming secretary-general of the ANC.
“This is not the time to be speaking about the positions ahead of the conference. Let’s wait until the party opens the nomination process,” he said.
If the national disciplinary committee crushed his appeal, Mahumapelo would have to wait for five years to be an active member of the ruling party again.
“If this is not a deliberate ploy by others to eliminate their internal enemies, then I don’t know what it is,” he said.
He wouldn’t say who were the people who wanted to throw him into the political wilderness.
He said he will stay on as ANC Member of Parliament until the national disciplinary committee made a ruling.
Mahumapelo was suspended along with the acting ANC provincial Women’s League secretary Bitsa Lenkopane.
Photo: Twitter (@DZumaSambudla)
