DA MPUMALANGA WORRY ABOUT
INEXPERIENCED CABINET
By BRIAN KAJENGO
DA leader Anthony Benardie together
with his cabinet worry about the
provincial cabinet as appointed by Mpumalanga premier DD Mabuza, and is
exceptionally concerned over his choice of certain individuals who clearly been
rewarded for their political loyalties, and not their governance skills or
experience.
“We welcome the premier’s decision
to split the departments of health and social development into two portfolios,
as both present their own unique challenges, and require their respective MECs’
undivided attention.
“We further welcome the merger of the departments of finance and economic development,
as efficient government spending on all levels would act as a driver of economic
growth and job creation.” Anthony Benardie said.
Benardie told Bvunzamutupo News
that certain departmental changes may bode well for Mpumalanga’s people, the DA is highly
concerned over the premier’s choice of MECs to take charge of their respective
portfolios.
DA has a benefit of doubt on
some of the portfolios. Here is how DA analyses the following portfolios.
·
Community safety,
security and liaison:
MEC Vusi Shongwe returns to serve a second term in a time when crime threatens
to spiral out of control. While we welcome the continuity created by his reappointment, the DA will keep a
close eye on his ability to safeguard Mpumalanga’s
rural areas and improving road safety.
·
Education: The DA welcomes the return of
Reginah Mhaule to this critically important portfolio.
She is aware of the many challenges and concerns that beset education in
Mpumalanga.
We believe that the MEC has much to improve upon her past term, but that she
brings continuity to a department that regularly finds itself in crisis. The DA
will maintain our intensive oversight of the MEC and this portfolio.
· Finance, economic development and
tourism: As
previously mentioned the DA welcomes the decision to merge the two departments.
MEC Eric Kholwane will have to prove himself,
especially in tightening up government’s almost unchecked spending and
providing the necessary financial support to municipalities. His immediate task will be to bring stability to the
chaotic state of affairs at the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) and
Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA).
D DA concerned about the appointment
of MEC Gillion Mashego to this critically important portfolio is probably the
most shocking and terrifying decision.
“Mpumalanga’s health care system is in a deep
state of crisis, and requires strong, experienced and capable leadership. Deeply
loyal to Mabuza, MEC Mashego has no experience in public office or the health
sector. Implicated in tender irregularities during the Pilgrim’s Rest flawed
tender process, his appointment is more than likely
a move by Mabuza to pacify a deeply divided Bohlabela region of the ANC,” said Benardie.
· Human settlement: Yet another department
desperately in need of strong and capable leadership is saddled with an MEC who
should not be in Cabinet. MEC Violet Siwela has been put in charge of a
department far behind on its delivery targets, and
the DA fears that under her leadership the housing crisis in Mpumalanga will never be
solved. Like MEC Mashego, the decision to keep her in Cabinet is most probably
to keep tight control over the Bohlabelo region of the ANC.
· Agriculture, rural development,
land affairs and environmental services: MEC Andries Gamede has his work
cut out for him to bring stability to the agricultural sector and ensure
food security. While he has slowly built up his experience in government, he
has to take firm control of this department and build
sound relations with formal agricultural unions. He must prioritise the capacitation
of emerging farmers and eliminate the vast land reform corruption that ravages
this department. While being a Mabuza loyalist,
the former human settlements MEC failed to improve the housing crisis in
the province.
·
Cooperative
governance and traditional affairs: Newly appointed MEC Refilwe Mtsweni lacks the skill or
strength of character to manage a complex portfolio. Municipal governance
across Mpumalanga’s
municipalities is the weakest it has ever been, with almost every municipality
in a state of financial crisis. With the 2016 local government elections
looming, and people increasingly resorting to violent protests over the lack of
service delivery, MEC Mtsweni does not have the political backbone to provide
strong leadership to a critical part of government’s service delivery
programme. The DA will closely monitor this
department as municipalities plunge from one crisis to the next.
· Public works, roads and transport: MEC Dumisile Nhlengethwa brings
with her a wealth of parliamentary experience where she has served since 1999.
Hopefully she will put all this experience to work and clean up a department
rife with corruption and missed delivery targets.
· Social development: MEC Nomsa Mtsweni brings with her
many years of experience in the Legislature. A former MEC she has the ability
to rescue a department beset by maladministration and poor management. How she
deals with the department’s ability to keep NGOs and NPOs afloat will be a true
test of her ability, provided she is allowed to do so.
· Culture, sport and recreation: MEC Norah Mahlangu’s appointment
is neither here nor there. A former councillor in the Thembisile Hani local
municipality with absolutely no track record of leadership or governance
experience, this position clearly stems from her loyalty to the premier. This
portfolio has never been a priority of government, as the development of sport
and cultural diversity and development hardly ever been promoted. Hopefully MEC
Mahlangu will be the fresh breeze this department so sorely needs.
DA says Mpumalanga is in its deepest time of need, and as predicted earlier, the province’s darkest days lie
ahead. While strong leadership skills across
all departments needed, this Cabinet only described as a collection of
yes-men and women, whose sole task is to tighten the grip of power and
influence premier Mabuza so desperately seeks.
|
Department
|
Name
|
|
|
|
|
1.
Agriculture, Rural Development, Land
and Environmental Affairs
|
Hon
Andries Gamede
|
|
2.
Community Safety, Security and
Liaison
|
Hon
Vusi Shongwe
|
|
3.
Cooperative Governance and
Traditional Affairs
|
Hon
Refilwe Mtsweni
|
|
4.
Culture, Sport and Recreation
|
Hon
Norah Mahlangu
|
|
5.
Education
|
Hon
Reginah Mhaule
|
|
6.
Finance, Economic Development and
Tourism
|
Hon
Eric Kholwane
|
|
7.
Health
|
Hon
Gillion Mashego
|
|
8.
Human Settlements
|
Hon
Violet Siwela
|
|
9.
Public Works, Roads and Transport
|
Hon
Dumisile Nhlengethwa
|
|
10. Social
Development
|
Hon
Nomsa Mtsweni
|
