Jean-Jacques Cornish

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Jean-Jacques Cornish

Supra Mahumapelo remains defiant in face of president’s call for him to resign

A beleaguered provincial premier, who’s backtracked on his undertaking to quit following allegations of corruption and inefficiency,  has taken a leave of absence.

He’s been temporarily replaced as acting premier of NorthWest province by a woman who’s facing fraud charges alongside him.

Premier Supra  Mahumapelo remains defiant claiming he’s the  victim of a political conspiracy between the ruling African National Congress and the ultra-left Economic Freedom Fighters.

He was due to announced his resignation yesterday (Wednesday) after talks at the weekend with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

However, his supporters and dependents have prevailed on him to dig in his heels.

Wendy Nelson, a member of his provincial executive who is also accused of fraud has been sworn in as his temporary replacement. 

There’s no indication how long he will remain on leave.

Mahumapelo, who’s offices have been raided by members of the serious crimes investigation unit known as the Hawks, has allegedly issued provincial tenders to friends and presided over the collapse of the provincial health service.

There have been violent demonstrations in the provincial capital Maheking demanding his dismissal.

Mahumapelo’s  defiant cling to power is reminiscent of ousted Predsident Jacob Zuma.

The premier remains a steadfast supporter of Zuma, maintaining he should never have been forced to resign.

His  gift to Zuma of a herd of cattle ostensibly bought from provincial funds to help emerging farmers is among the items being investigated by the Hawks.

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Jean-Jacques Cornish is a journalist and broadcaster who has been involved in the media all his adult life.

Starting as a reporter on his hometown newspaper, he moved briefly to then Rhodesia before returning to South Africa to become a parliamentary correspondent with the South African Press Association. He was sent to London as Sapa’s London editor and also served as special correspondent to the United Nations. He joined the then Argus group in London as political correspondent.

Returning to South Africa after 12 years abroad, he was assistant editor on the Pretoria News for a decade before becoming editor of the Star and SA Times for five years.

Since 1999 he’s been an independent journalist writing and broadcasting – mainly about Africa – for Talk Radio 702 and 567 Cape
Talk, Radio France International, PressTV, Radio Live New Zealand, Business Day, Mail & Guardian, the BBC, Agence France Press,
Business in Africa, Leadership, India Today, the South African Institute for International Affairs and the Institute for Security Studies.

He has hosted current affairs talk shows on Talk Radio 702 and 567 Cape Talk. He appears as an African affairs pundit on SABC Africa and CNBC Africa.
He lectured in contemporary studies to journalism students at the Tshwane University of Technology and the University of Pretoria.

He speaks on African affairs to corporate and other audiences.
He has been officially invited as a journalist to more than 30 countries. He was the winner of the 2007 SADC award for radio journalism.

He’s been a member of the EISA team observing elections in Somaliland, Democratic Republic of Congo, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Egypt and Tunsiai.

In October 2009 he headed a group of 39 African journalists to the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Peoples’ Republic of China.

In January 2010 he joined a rescue and paramedical team to earthquake struck Haiti.

He is immediate past president of the Alliance Francaise of Pretoria.

Jean-Jacques is a director of Giant Media. The company was given access to Nelson Mandela in his retirement years until 2009.
He is co-producer of the hour-long documentary Mandela at 90 that was broadcast on BBC in January 2009.

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