Job Mokgoro North West Clover SA

North West premier Job Mokgoro.

Photo: Twitter/@NWPGVTSD

Tebogo Job Mokgoro: Five things to know about the new North West Premier

We’ve got a disciplinarian on board. Just what North West needs?

Job Mokgoro North West Clover SA

North West premier Job Mokgoro.

Photo: Twitter/@NWPGVTSD

It’s taken a month to come to a decision, but the ANC have finally chosen the new North West premier to replace Supra Mahumapelo: Step forward, Tebogo Job Mokgoro.

The tumultuous nomination process just about sums the entire situation in the province’s government. If the party had not decided by Friday, there would have been a dissolution of local Parliament, forcing early elections.

However, a compromise has been reached between national branches of the ANC, trade unions and those who still give their backing to Mahumapelo. The ANC are expected to confirm these details at a Thursday morning press conference.

The party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have got their guy: Here’s everything you need to know about the new premier on the block.

Who is Tebogo Job Mokgoro, the new North West Premier?

Early life and education

Born in 1948, he started his life in Kimberley, Northern Cape. He went on to receive a master of public administration degree from the University of Toledo in the US.

He then became a lecturer at the University of Bophuthatswana (now part of North-West University), and his most recent job was serving as principal of the National School of Government. That’s right, he’s highly experienced at whipping politicians into shape!

Discipline is the name of the game

If North West’s Parliamentary members think they can relax with a new guy in charge, they’ll have to think again. Mokgoro is notorious for running a tight ship.

In fact, while he was director-general of North West government, he diligently patrolled the offices to ensure no-one was leaving early on Fridays. On more than one occasion, he ordered staff back to the office to stay until 17:00

Referring to corruption in politics, he once told News24 that “when the fish is rotten, start checking the head – you will see that is where it started.” Supra Mahumapelo could learn a thing or two from his successor.

Mrs Mokgoro has had a sterling legal career

Yvonne Mokgoro is arguably the more recognisable name out of two, given that she served 15 years as a judge of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, from 1994 – 2009.

She’s worked as a lecturer, professor and a specialist researcher for human rights. She has an endless list of achievements to her name, and the Mokgoro’s have made integrity the bedrock of both their marriage and their careers.

He beat some stiff competition to get this role

It says a lot about Tebogo Job Mokgoro’s competence that he was able to emerge as the favoured candidate in this field. Both Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa and acting ANC North West secretary Susan Dantjie were touted as replacements.

South Africa’s ambassador to the United Nations, Jerry Matjila was also in the running, before eventually stepping out of the race due to his other commitments.

Mokgoro has experience of managing North West

Given his work history, it seems like the ANC have got the right man for the “Job”.

In April 1994, he became the first Director-General of the North West Province. He was tasked with distributing a R7 billion budget, as well as rationalising and integrating three government administrations into one North West Province.

Mokgoro has also served as a policy analyst for the Development Bank of Southern Africa and completed a four-year stint as the director-general of the South African Management Development Institute. The province, it seems, has a pair of safe hands.