No confirmation on Alvin’s resignation

WHILE the ANC in the Northern Cape intends pushing ahead for a provincial cabinet shake-up before the end of the year, no finality has been obtained regarding whether Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) Alvin Botes is in fact stepping down from office.

While the ANC on Sunday stated that it was aware that Botes had apparently finally agreed to be redeployed to Parliament, it had not confirmed whether the party was in possession of any official notice to indicate that he was relinquishing his positions in the Northern Cape.

The Office of the Premier indicated yesterday that it had not received any resignation letter from Botes, while Coghsta maintained its silence over the whole saga.

Spokesperson for the Office of the Speaker, Mpho Masina, was also not able to give details of any changes to the staff complement or provide any specific date as to when former Member of Parliament Patrick Mabilo would be sworn in as an MPL.

“The legislature always strives to inform the media about any developments within the legislature and subsequently invite the media to any occasion taking place at the legislature. Should there be any official information, and/or changes in relation to the current members of the provincial legislature, the media shall be duly informed so as to ensure that the Northern Cape community stays informed of any developments,” Masina stated.

No one was able to advise on who would replace ANC Frances Baard regional chairperson Dr Thapelo Dithebe in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature, following the two-year suspension of his ANC membership after he was found unfit to hold office.

ANC members in the ANC Youth League and the Frances Baard region dismissed Botes’ socalled resignation as fake news.

“We would have known if he had resigned.”

They added that Dithebe was still an MPL and that he had appealed the outcome of his disciplinary hearing, where he was found guilty of divisive and factional behaviour.

ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga yesterday indicated that the the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) intends to reshuffle the provincial cabinet before the end of the year.

“We don’t want to start the new year with the same old problems.”

Ngxanga initially wanted to conclude a cabinet overhaul at the beginning of October, where almost two months have passed since Botes repeatedly refused to be redeployed to the National Assembly.