Premier Supra Mahumapelo steps down after protests
JOHANNESBURG – The premier of South Africa’s North West province, Supra Mahumapelo, has resigned, local media reported on Wednesday, after mounting political and public pressure that led to violent protests against him last month.
South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma chats with Premier of North West Province Supra Mahumapelo before addressing the National Youth Day commemoration, under the theme “The Year of OR Tambo: Advancing Youth Economic Empowerment”, in Ventersdorp, South Africa June 16, 2017. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko
Mahumapelo was a political ally of scandal-plagued former president Jacob Zuma, replaced in February by Cyril Ramaphosa, who has vowed to clean up governance in Africa’s most industrialised economy.
Last month Ramaphosa cut short a visit to a Commonwealth summit in Britain to travel to North West and calm tensions after crowds began protesting against poor public services and demanding Mahumapelo’s resignation.
Ramaphosa placed the platinum-rich province’s health and treasury departments under central government control and deployed army medics to treat hospital patients.