Minister Appolo thanks King for appointment
LlIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
MALKERNS – Minister Appolo Maphalala expressed his opinion that being appointed as the Minister of Housing and Urban Development showed that the King had faith in urban development.
He made this statement during a farewell event in Malkerns, where his former colleagues were present.
Maphalala was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) of Kukhanyeni Inkhundla, after serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Malkerns Town Council. Nothemba Masika has taken over as the Acting CEO of the town.
During the farewell, Maphalala thanked His Majesty for the appointment and stated that it demonstrated his trust in the people who worked in local govhicle ernment. He also revealed that he thought he would end up as an ordinary MP and get into consulting.
Maphalala mentioned Thulani Mkhaliphi, who is now the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, as an example of someone who had been in local government and was appointed to a higher position.
Disputes
Maphalala’s former colleagues raised some concerns during the farewell, including land disputes that were hindering development in the town.
Maphalala assured them that he would make things happen and that he was confident in the Cabinet and the Prime Minister (PM), Russell Dlamini.
He emphasised that he was more interested in delivering results than following the processes or timeline of the work.
Maphalala was also described as a humble person who enjoyed playing soccer with his juniors.
He reminded the councillors to keep the town clean, despite his ministerial position.
Represented
The Under Secretary (US) in the ministry, Makhosi Simelane, represented the Principal Secretary Dr Simon Zwane at the event.
Simelane joked about Zwane being tired from attending the Christmas Carol event in Malkerns and reminded Maphalala that his task was significant.
Maphalala was presented with a luggage carrier and a goat as farewell gifts.
The Chairperson of the Councillors, Mbuso Dlamini, thanked Maphalala for his contribution to developing Malkerns during his two years and three months tenure as CEO.