ANALYSIS | Comeback king: the rise, fall, rise and fall again of the ANC’s ‘Black Jesus’

Supra Obakeng Ramoeletsi Mahumapelo is one ANC politician who has fallen from grace only to rise again. But with the power dynamics in the ANC having taken a 180º turn since his last rise 2017, the question arises: Will there be another resurrection for the man known as “Black Jesus” within ANC circles?

So powerful was “Comrade SOR” in the ANC, that even though he was booted out of his office as party provincial secretary in 2009, he returned more emboldened three years later — this time as the powerful provincial chairperson.

It’s a move that has the potential to put paid to a colourful political career, filled with ups and downs in the ANC, with at least 11 years spent at the higher echelons of the governing party.

Mahumapelo’s provincial executive committee had been disbanded by then-president Jacob Zuma in 2008, after the North West politician threw his weight behind Zuma’s rival at the time, Thabo Mbeki.

Mahumapelo quickly realised where the power lay and reinvented and ingratiated himself with the Zuma corner, thereby sealing his return as North West chairperson 2011.

Fast forward a decade, and with the ANC now seeking to move away from factional politics, it remains to be seen if “Black Jesus” can rise once more. Known for belting out gospel songs, Mahumapelo released a gospel album in 2011.

Mahumapelo’s membership of the ANC was suspended this week after he was found guilty by the provincial disciplinary committee for sowing division within the party.

It’s a move that has the potential to put paid to a colourful political career, filled with ups and downs in the ANC, with at least 11 years spent at the higher echelons of the governing party. As part of his five-year suspension, Mahumapelo has been ordered to take up a political mentorship programme under Mbeki.

But the writing has long been on the wall for “Comrade SOR” ever since Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s failed bid to win the ANC presidency in 2017.

Mahumapelo was part of that unsuccessful campaign, as an influential member of the once-powerful grouping in the ANC called the “premier league” — a faction that included deputy president David Mabuza and ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule. 

Mahumapelo’s fall from grace began in 2018 — shortly after Cyril Ramaphosa’s election to lead the ANC — when North West descended into chaos with protesters calling for his resignation as premier due to allegations of corruption. 

Mahumapelo has been engulfed in a number of scandals, including allegations that he gifted Zuma 25 cattle worth R1.5m – cattle that had been targeted for emerging farmers.

When North West was in turmoil back in 2018, Ramaphosa cut his trip to London short, where he was participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit, to address the protesters. Soon after, Mahumapelo had no option but to resign as premier of the platinum province.

The ANC then decided to disband the PEC he led as provincial chairperson — a move that left Mahumapelo almost powerless.

Many had thought Mahumapelo would do what he does best and stage a miraculous comeback, similar to the one he did in 2011. But it was not to be.  

However, this belief was bolstered by the fact that Mahumapelo, despite his scandals and allegations of mismanagement of North West, which is still under administration, made it onto the ANC parliamentary list for the 2019 general elections.  

Those who supported him argued Mahumapelo had travelled this road before. His executive, which he led as secretary, was disbanded in 2009 for its support of Mbeki’s bid for a third term in the 2007 Polokwane conference.

But Mahumapelo manoeuvred his way back and ended up being elected provincial chairperson in 2011 and wielded enormous power in North West. At the time, current national assembly speaker Thandi Modise was premier, but many believed it was Mahumapelo who was running the show, before his official appointment as premier in 2014.

With his suspension, Mahumapelo will lose his position as an MP and be barred from participating in ANC structures, thereby denying him any platform to mobilise support for a comeback.

For now, it’s a cul-de-sac for “Black Jesus”.