Makhura survives DA’s motion of no confidence
GAUTENG Premier David Makhura has survived another motion of no confidence against him that was tabled by the DA in the provincial legislature yesterday.
The DA motion was supported by the EFF and Freedom Front Plus, while the IFP and ACDP appeared ambiguous. Despite not declaring their stance, the IFP and ACDP were adamant that corruption was ruining opportunities for people and businesses in Gauteng.
After voting, the DA was quick to concede defeat. The concession came after most ANC members in the legislature opposed the DA’s motion that Makhura was implicated in the R2.2 billion personal protective equipment (PPE) tender scandal in the province.
DA caucus leader Solly Msimanga said it was no surprise that the ANC in the Gauteng provincial legislature had voted to keep Makhura in office. He said the motion of no confidence brought by the DA came after it became quite clear that Makhura was not fit to govern.
“The outcome of the vote does not change our view. Premier Makhura remains unfit to govern.”
The party said that under Makhura’s watch: ¡ Up to R125 million was wasted on corrupt tenders for PPE.
■ R431m was spent on decontaminating schools between June and August last year.
■ AngloGold Ashanti hospital on the far West Rand received R500m worth of funding in order to equip it with extra beds and facilities to assist Covid-19 patients. These wards are still incomplete and remain under construction.
■ Years after the tragedy at Life Esidimeni, 81 claimants had still not been paid their compensation by November 2020.
■ More than 18 months since the Bank of Lisbon Fire, the premier has still failed to release the investigation report.
■ There has been a continuous systemic collapse of municipalities like Emfuleni and Merafong.
■ There was an illegal dissolution of the Tshwane Municipal Council last year.
Msimanga said it was clear that the ANC-led government in Gauteng remained committed to cadre deployment and “will do anything in their power to ensure that Makhura remains in office, despite his government failing to exercise proper fiscal control and governance”.
“The DA will not waiver in its duty as the official opposition in the province to hold Makhura and his executive to account,” Msimanga said.
But the ANC came to Makhura’s defence, saying he had done nothing wrong.
ANC Chief Whip Mzi Khumalo said the DA’s motion was based on the initial judgment which wrongly pointed the finger at the premier, but that judgment was later rectified by the court.
Lodging an attack on the DA, Khumalo said: “Their action is frivolous and is an indication of the disdain the opposition party is having in serving our people, especially Africans in particular, and blacks in general.
“We must affirm that under the leadership of Premier Makhura, all the required PPE to help our front-line workers discharge their work without necessarily putting themselves at risk was procured.”
He said the provincial government had a stock of PPE worth R840m, which was sufficient to last for two months. He added that the importance of having adequate beds during the pandemic could not be overemphasised.
“Before the pandemic, we had 3 022 beds and currently Gauteng has a bed capacity of 4 265 beds. The hospital on the West Rand is 98% complete. Not only was it refurbished for Covid-19, but it will contribute towards extending health services to the poorest of the poor in the region.
“Telling lies to claim undue victories on the sweat of the hard-working ANC-led government is deplorable,” Khumalo said.