Former North West premier Bushy Maape dies at 68

Former North West premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape has died at the age of 68. His passing was confirmed on Sunday morning, 17 May 2026.

The family said Maape died surrounded by his children and family on Saturday after a short illness. They described him as a loving, humble, kind hearted and respected man whose presence brought warmth, wisdom and strength to those around him.

The African National Congress also paid tribute to Maape, hailing him as a freedom fighter who was imprisoned on Robben Island for his political activism during apartheid. ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said Maape dedicated his life to the struggle for liberation, the advancement of the people of South Africa, and the empowerment of communities through education. She added that he served the movement with discipline, humility and unwavering commitment.

Maape served as premier of North West province from September 2021 to May 2024. He took over after Job Mokgoro stepped down. Before becoming premier, he held senior roles in the provincial government, including overseeing RDP programmes and strategic planning in the premier’s office.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Economics from the University of South Africa while imprisoned on Robben Island. He later completed honours degrees in Developmental Studies and Economics at the University of the Western Cape.

South Africa’s parliamentary caucus leader, Dr. John Hlophe, has delivered a stern warning that has the potential to escalate tensions even further. He made it clear that his party would not be working with President Cyril Ramaphosa anymore and that they want to prevent him from making public appearances in parliament. According to Hlophe, the MK Party is taking a combative stance in an effort to derail the president’s parliamentary commitments right up until the conclusion of his tenure.

According to the former judge, who is now the head of the opposition in Parliament, “We will bar him from speaking until he leaves office.” This means that the MK Party would not provide Ramaphosa a platform during sessions. His remarks are indicative of the party’s more aggressive posture in its ongoing criticism of the ruling ANC over matters of leadership and governance.

As a result of these comments, the MK Party’s relationship with the ANC-led government is likely to become even more strained. When it comes to criticising Ramaphosa’s leadership and authority, the MK Party is among the most vocal. Opposition parties are moving away from formal protests and procedural techniques, according to Hlophe’s statement, and toward more disruptive and direct approaches.

According to political experts, this type of speech has the potential to exacerbate tensions in the National Assembly, especially during important legislative events like question sessions and big policy discussions. A potential disruption of parliamentary procedures and a widening of political differences could result from the MK Party’s actions, they warn.

Hlophe has made remarks, and the presidency has not addressed them. However, in order for constitutional processes to go unimpeded, legislative rules typically demand order. Opposition parties have been critical of Ramaphosa’s leadership and economic policies for some time, and the MK Party seems to be taking a stance that aims to increase the pressure by being more aggressive.

The increasing animosity in Parliament, according to experts, could hinder legislative effectiveness by making it harder for parties to cooperate. We will now watch the next sittings to see if the MK Party follows through on its threat and how the leadership of the parliament reacts to the increasing tensions.