Ramaphosa Cuts Short London Trip to Quell Violence in NW Province, South Africa
The African National Congress (ANC) confirmed in a media invite tonight that President Cyril Ramaphosa, will address an urgent meeting – on Friday 20 April 2018 – in the North West province. The South African President has cut short his #CHOGM2018 trip to London, to return to the volatile situation. “President Ramaphosa will be accompanied […]
The African National Congress (ANC) confirmed in a media invite tonight that President Cyril Ramaphosa, will address an urgent meeting – on Friday 20 April 2018 – in the North West province. The South African President has cut short his #CHOGM2018 trip to London, to return to the volatile situation.
“President Ramaphosa will be accompanied by ANC SG, Cde Ace Magashule, the DSG, Cde Jessie Duarte and ANC NEC members deployed to the North West province,” said the ANC.
The meeting will take place at midday in Mahikeng, where violent protests, accompanied by the burning of tyres and buses, and stoning of cars, have caused roads in and out of the province’s capital to be shut down, as well as the closure of several social services including schools. Shops have also been looted.
Late tonight the SABC reported that protests were continuing, with Mmabana Centre on fire.
Protesters are calling for the resignation of Premier Supra Mahimapelo and for better service delivery, particularly in the health department where strikes have been ongoing.
The DA said on Thursday evening: “The only action that will end the scenes of war is for ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce the recall of Mahumapelo, whose time as Premier has been marked by recurring allegations of corruption, a close relationship with the Guptas and a general collapse of the North West.”
The DA warned that “in the same way that South Africa punished the ANC at the polls for protecting Jacob Zuma, the people of the North West will punish them for keeping Mahumapelo in power.”
#Mahikeng CBD trashed and pretty much a ghost town. @eNCA #MahikengProtest pic.twitter.com/Sv4E5E7epy
— Michael 🍏 (@TheMikeAppel) April 19, 2018
WATCH: Braz de Costa, owner of the looted bottle store says, “everything we work so hard for gets taken away in a couple of minutes”. @eNCA #MahikengProtest #Mahikeng pic.twitter.com/WecSfZ8KNg
— Michael 🍏 (@TheMikeAppel) April 19, 2018
Mahikeng is on fire .. people are tired .. supra has to resign #mahikeng #SupraMahumapelo pic.twitter.com/bhx7u0vRNc
— IG: Bondy_Guru (@bondy_guru) April 18, 2018