Top five and premier start talks over cabinet shake-up
SERVICE delivery challenges and a shake-up of the Eastern Cape administration were key issues discussed in bilateral meetings between premier Phumulo Masualle and the province’s top five ANC leaders.
ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi told the Daily Dispatch yesterday that a “series of meetings” were held before Masualle left for China on Monday and were set to continue when he returned. Masualle, finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo, agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane and senior government officials left the country last weekend for a week-long trip to China.
“We have had a series meetings to tackle several service delivery challenges in some of our municipalities before he left the country.
“We have been meeting but those discussions [on the reshuffle] are not concluded,” said Ngcukayitobi.
The ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) in January decided to make changes to the cabinet. The Dispatch at the time reported that Masualle would also be affected.
However, the ANC national executive committee resolved earlier this month to retain Masualle as premier, but allow the PEC to change the cabinet.
The changes would be owned by Masualle and officially communicated to the national ANC leaders.
The recall of the MECs was, however, halted due to strained relations between Masualle and Calata House. Ngcukayitobi confirmed yesterday that the drive to iron out relations between Masualle and the PEC was a “work in progress”.
“What remains important is to ensure that there is a framework of working between the two. There has to be a working relationship between the ANC and its deployees in government and that is unavoidable.”
A topic discussed at length was a protest in Keiskammahoek over service delivery delays during which a taxi driver was killed in cross-fire.
Residents had taken to the streets to protest against the dismal state of their roads.
ANC and government leaders visited the area following the tragedy and had first-hand experience of the residents’ plight.
Ngcukayitobi said it was agreed that a task team would be established comprising the premier and the town’s speaker and chief whip.
“The team will have to meet on a regular basis so that we can have regular discussions,” he said.
There was a breakthrough at the troubled Enoch Mgijima municipality in Komani over unregulated electricity cuts, he said.
A working group comprising Cogta MEC Fikile Xasa and Ngcukayitobi’s office will focus on other troubled municipalities including Mnquma, Great Kei and Raymond Mhlaba in Fort Beaufort.
Masualle and his team are expected back in the country this weekend. —