Embattled North West premier Job Mokgoro says he will only resign from his job once “internal matters” have been addressed by the ANC.
Mokgoro confirmed that he is expecting to meet President Cyril Ramaphosa this week to discuss political matters relating to the province.
His allies told Sowetan's sister publication, Sunday Times, that he wants Ramaphosa to explain the reasons for his dismissal. Ramaphosa convinced him to take the job of premier in 2018.
Yesterday, it emerged that Mokgoro was aggrieved, claiming his removal was linked to the desire to loot state resources. He told Sowetan that he had come across illegal and irregular activities which he had acted on, including referring some cases to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority.
But he did not specify which cases these were or whom they related to, insisting that the cases had to do with “looting and criminality”.
“All the illegal and irregular activities that I came across since the commencement of my term in the office were reported to the relevant authorities, where necessary processes were ensued which led to suspensions and dismissals,” Mokgoro said.
The ANC interim provincial committee (IPC) in the troubled province announced that it had ousted Mokgoro last week and unveiled its veteran Bushy Maape as the new premier-elect. The IPC accused Mokgoro of refusing to consult and/or toe the party line in the running of the provincial administration.
Mokgoro said there were people who are part of the IPC structure who sought to frustrate his work as the premier. He said the individuals “went out of their way to frustrate functions and responsibilities which are constitutionally arrogated to the premier”.
His close ally James Gadinabokao said Mokgoro has things that needed to be set straight on the 14-page report that the IPC submitted to the ANC, which led to his axing. The report is said to have accused Mokgoro of leading a rogue intelligence operation where he allegedly spied on top politicians in the province. He was also blamed for collapsed municipalities.
Gadinabokao said Mokgoro was “never given a chance to be a premier”.
ANC chief whip in the North West legislature, Paul Sebego, said the caucus had not started any process in relation to the replacement of Mokgoro as he had not resigned as premier and an MPL.
Sebego said the ANC interim provincial leadership had also not formally communicated with the caucus to instruct it to kick-start the process.
“We have not even triggered the process because we are awaiting the formal communique from the ANC leadership. I am in constant contact with the party as a chief whip but the only time that the caucus will be involved is when there is an indication of a vacancy.
"We will deal with the process of refilling of the vacancy but that process has not started now. The ANC must resolve whatever outstanding issues, and once clarity has been provided, we will start the process,” he said.
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