Premier under fire over Dubai trip and Gupta ‘ties’

Rustenburg – North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo “must come clean” and tell the province about his relationship with the controversial Gupta family, the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) said on Thursday.

Credit: INDEPENDENT MEDIA

The EFF and DA in the North West have blasted Premier Supra Mahumapelo over his trip to Dubai and his alleged relationship with the Gupta family. Picture: Itumeleng English

EFF provincial spokesperson Thabo Sehloho said Mahumapelo left the country for China “claiming” that he and his delegation went there to discuss economic opportunities.

Sehloho added that Mahumapelo’s China trip was said to be aimed at promoting the province’s strategy on agriculture, culture and tourism, and looking for investors as well as returning the trip by Governor Li Ya.

“The next thing he is at Dubai,” said the EFF spokesman.

“He is claiming to be attending the Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai … what a coincidence that this meeting is taking place when all ‘Gupta associate’ ministers and political leaders are visiting Dubai, and all of them are claiming to be there on official business … also the Guptas went to Dubai.”

Sehloho said it was “high time” that the premier “must come clean” and tell the province about his relationship with the Guptas and how he benefited from the relationship.

“Why is he defending the Guptas? When we said we don’t want them in the province, he emphasises that they are welcome and they will invest here,” said Sehloho.

On Tuesday the Democratic Alliance in North West said it was concerned about “ties” between Mahumapelo and the Gupta family.

“Coincidentally the premier has embarked on an overseas trip to Dubai after the Gupta family reportedly packed their bags and fled to Dubai,” said DA provincial leader Joe McGluwa.

“Premier Mahumapelo has never been shy to praise the Guptas, during his State of the Province Address, he used the platform to proudly announce his affiliation with the Gupta family and praised them for all their investments in the province.”

Responding to the DA, Mahumapelo’s office on Wednesday said the provincial government explained, before the premier left accompanied by three MECs, the purpose of the overseas visit and the anticipated benefits.

Mahumapelo and his delegation went to China on April 6, and subsequently attend the Annual Investment Congress in Dubai.

They were expected to meet with companies in the sectors of agribusiness, energy, industrial manufacturing, as well as leisure and tourism.

Acting provincial head of communication Brian Setswambung said: “This visit stands to benefit the provincial government in its quest to grow the economy of the province. The economic investment meeting in Dubai which is currently under way, will explore economic opportunities available in Dubai for the North West and vice versa.”

Setswambung said Mahumapelo did not need to go to Dubai to meet with the Gupta family if he wants to meet them.

African News Agency

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