Anti-Mahumapelo songs: ANCWL blasts NWest Business Forum

File photo: North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo. Picture: Itumeleng English

File photo: North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo. Picture: Itumeleng English

Published Jan 15, 2017

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Rustenburg – The African National Congress Women's League in North West has slammed the provincial business forum over "slanderous" songs about North West premier and ANC provincial chairperson Supra Mahumapelo. 

"We have noted a slanderous recording in [the] form [of] a song which has been circulating in the social media. The defamatory song is said to be attributed to [the] North West Business Forum which is known to be representing a group of business people and not pseudo musicians with vulgar tones," ANCWL provincial secretary Bridgette Mogakwe said in a statement. 

"We call on the North West Business Forum to remove the masquerade and become politicians to that we treat them accordingly or continue with the business of tendering where they will be accorded an opportunity to operate if they qualify in terms of the legislated conditions set for business operating in this government. We are not afraid to challenge such characters in a political platform and defeat them as we defeated all those opposed to the ANC through the ballot since 1994," she said. 

One of the songs called on Mahumapelo to resigned before February 14 or the people would eject him from office. The song stated corruption as a compelling reason for him to resign. Another song called on Mahumapelo to "run", predicting his power was coming to an end. 

Mogakwe said the democracy the ANC brought in 1994 gave anybody the right to approach structures set up by government to raise any allegations of corruption or maladministration against any individual in government. 

The ANC in North West said it was aware of the songs. "We are aware that the said songs are already being shared on Whatsapp and could have reached some of our members and supporters. Though the songs appear to be originating from another province, we know that the work behind this is a joint effort with some in our province whose goal is to wreak havoc. We condemn their malicious aims in the strongest terms," ANC provincial secretary Dakota Legoete said. Making unfounded and malicious allegations against anyone, regardless of their political status, was "punishable by law", as it amounted to defamation. 

"While the ANC is the first one to defend everyone's freedom to express themselves it is also the ANC's duty to teach our people that the said freedom comes with responsibilities." He called on party members and supporters to resist any attempts to be "defocused". "Let's all defend the ANC and its leaders as we continue working towards deepening unity and strengthening the ANC further," Legoete said. 

Earlier on Saturday, a group of about 200 ANC members and supporters from Sunrise Park disrupted a meeting called by the North West Business Forum in Kanana near Rustenburg. 

The meeting was intended to debate the economic and political situation in the province. The group of men wielding sticks, knobkerries, pangas, and axes entered the hall while a pastor was about to preach to open the meeting. 

They hurled chairs onto the stage forcing the meeting to be abandoned. They also smashed the sound system, claiming it was to be used to launch the anti Mahumapelo songs.

ANA

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