This after Mahumapelo earlier this week made public that the EFF’s provincial leader is definitely on a list of one of the people who he will be suing for tainting his image and discrediting him.

He is targeting a total of 13 people, among them some members of the opposition.

Diale says she received papers that she deems meaningless, ordering her to apologise for having spoken about his alleged rampant corruption. Mahumapelo has been marred by a series of allegations of corruption and maladministration that led to calls for his removal as the premier and ultimately as the chairperson of the ANC.

Diale says he does not have any basis to take her to court over what she has been saying about his conduct.

“We think its an attempt by the retired Premier to threaten people not to expose corruption in the North West. He must know that we are resolute and we are not petered out. We are going to proceed, lawyers, documents or not - we will vehemently challenge any kind of actions he is taking against anyone of us. I can promise you he will have to prepare himself for our legal costs because he will never win that court case,” says Diale.

Corruption allegations Mahumapelo has been accused of were fuelled by the recent Hawks raid at his office in March, where various documents linked to a multi-million-rand contract awarded to Nepo Data Dynamics were seized. The Hawks' investigation is related to corruption and fraud allegations related to R160 million.

He also came under fire when it was revealed that a contract was awarded to a Gupta-linked company, Mediosa, to provide health care services in the province and this led to the suspension of North West HOD, Andrew Lekalakala, over the contract in which R30 million was paid to Mediosa without proper processes.

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane