Premier set to name new MECs
PREMIER Sylvia Lucas will announce the long awaited appointment of two MECs to fill the vacant posts that were created last year during the State of the Province address on February 18.
A possible reshuffle of the Provincial cabinet is also on the cards.
The Department of Education has been without an MEC for almost five months following the death of Grizelda Cjiekella-Lecholo in August 2015.
The ANC Youth League attributed the seven percent drop in the 2015 matric pass rate to the absence of a departmental leader.
The Department of Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism has been functioning without an MEC since October after John Block resigned both as MEC and ANC Provincial chairman when he was found guilty of corruption and money laundering relating to the Trifecta government lease scandal.
It was widely speculated that the MEC for Health, Mac Jack, will replace Block as MEC for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism.
Jack launched an anti-corruption unit in the Department of Health that has uncovered fraud involving R200 million, relating to the procurement of goods, services and equipment.
Disciplinary action was also taken against 13 officials, including the CEO of Kimberley Hospital Gordon Moncho, who was suspended in December.
It is believed that Martha Bartlett, who has been acting as MEC for Education, will be appointed permanently in this position while her post of MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison might be filled by ANC MPL Fufe Makatong.
Newly sworn in Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Pauline Williams is expected to get her old job back as MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, while Gift van Staden might fill the post of MEC for Social Development, with Mxolisi Sokatsha expected to return as MEC for Health.
The current MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Lebogang Motlhaping, could possibly be the next MEC for Roads and Public Works.
The rest of the Provincial cabinet is expected to remain unchanged.
Cope MPL Pakes Dikgetsi pointed out that the delay in filling the posts had resulted in unbudgeted expenses at the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (NCPL).
MPLs reportedly earn annual salaries of R1 million, excluding benefits.
Dikgetsi added that the legislature made provision for 30 MPLs on the organogram that consisted of 19 MPLs and 11 executive members, including the Premier.
“The departments pay the salaries of the MECs and Premier while the legislature pays the salaries of MPLs.”
According to Dikgetsi it is “irresponsible to leave such vital departments headless for such a long time . . . the Department of Education is the highest cost driver in the Province”.
Spokeswoman for the Office of the Premier, Bronwyn ThomasAbrahams, stated that the appointment of MECs remained the prerogative of the Premier.
“The Premier will announce the appointment of MECs to lead the respective departments and portfolios where vacancies have arisen during her State of the Province address on February 18. All matters will be clarified then.”
She did not wish to respond to speculation over the possible candidates to lead the various departments.
“Members of the Executive Council are remunerated by the departments that they are heading and receive only one salary. Acting MECs do not receive any acting allowances.”
Thomas-Abrahams pointed out that the caretaker MECs had stabilised the affected departments “despite the demands of their own departments” without compromis- ing service delivery.
Office of the Speaker senior manager at the NCPL, Epang Matolweni, indicated that no over-expenditure was incurred by the Legislature, since Pauline Williams and Gift Van Staden were included in the required number of MPLs.
“Irrespective of the size of the executive, the Legislature has a legal obligation to compensate all MPLs and ensure that they receive all the benefits that they are entitled to, including office space, support staff, subsistence and travel allowances when elected as members.”
He stated that members were remunerated according to the number of legislature members and not according to the size of the executive.
“The remuneration of Members of the Provincial Legislature is a direct charge from the Provincial Revenue. Our Legislature comprises 30 members, from which the Premier and Members of the Executive (MECs) are appointed from.”
Spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Lebogang Majaha, stated that regardless of who the MEC for the department was, the fraud and corruption task team established by the current MEC for Health, Mac Jack, would continue to root out fraud and corruption.
“We have confidence in their abilities based on their expertise, understanding of the policies and procedures of government, experience and ability to investigate and we remain confident that they will succeed in doing so.”
DA provincial leader, Andrew Louw, urged the Premier to speed up the process of appointing permanent MECs. Louw said that it was “inhumane” to expect one official to carry out the duties of two MECs.
“There simply is not enough time in the day to devote attention to two demanding portfolios.”
He also pointed out that the post of HOD for Provincial Treasury had been vacant since October 2014 while there has been no HOD for the Department of Economic Development and Tourism since November 2014.