The rise and fall (and possible resurrection) of Supra 'Black Jesus' Mahumapelo

Former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo resigned in May 2018 following province-wide protests calling for his removal from office.
Former North West premier Supra Mahumapelo resigned in May 2018 following province-wide protests calling for his removal from office. (Alaister Russell/The Sunday Times)

Supra Mahumapelo is headed back to the political wilderness after he finally succumbed to pressure from the ANC to quit his postion as the premier of North West.

His woes are not over as his detractors within the African National Congress (ANC) national executive committee are most likely going to push that the highest decision-making structure disband the North West executive committee.

Mahumapelo has been here before.

In 2009, the Jacob Zuma-led ANC disbanded the North West provincial executive as it was deemed to be factional.

But insiders insisted that Zuma was merely punishing Mahumapelo – who was then provincial secretary – for leading a delegation that supported former president Thabo Mbeki at the Polokwane conference two years earlier.

Mahumapelo was said to be so angry with Zuma that he is said to have actively participated in the formation of the ANC-splinter party, Congress of the People – but never joined officially.