The ANC in the North West suffered a major blow when their preferred candidate for the premiership, provincial chairperson Nono Maloyi, was rejected by tripartite alliance leaders.

The ANC in the North West suffered a major blow when their preferred candidate for the premiership, provincial chairperson Nono Maloyi, was rejected by tripartite alliance leaders.

Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the SA National Civics Organisation (Sanco) have denounced Maloyi, pictured, as a "divisive leader who falls short of the characteristics expected in a premier".

Cosatu's provincial secretary Solly Phetoe said he was angry that the ANC PEC met in Mafikeng last week to discuss the premiership candidacy without "inviting us to participate".

Sanco's provincial secretary Packet Seaketso voiced similar grievances.

Since their acrimonious provincial conference last July, the North West PEC's internal wrangling has worsened, resulting in last month's murder of Rustenburg councillor Moss Phakoe.

The NEC is expected to officially disband the PEC after the April 22 elections. - Motswako News Agency