Housing audit needed to address access, accountability
28 March 2017
Release: immediate
The Democratic Alliance objects to the appointment of Mr. Darius Babuseng, the Head of Ministry at the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development & Tourism, as the acting Head of the Department. It reeks of political interference and speaks more to factional battles within the ANC than it does to the capacity within the department.
The message is clear that the MEC for Finance, Economic Development & Tourism is trying to interfere politically with the administration and operations of the department. The Head of Ministry is an administrative office in the Office of the MEC and the incumbent reports to the MEC on a political level. These duties are very different from the role that a Head of Department must play. There is a strong conflict of interest in making a political appointee the head of the department.
There are a number of Chief Directors within the department who could have been appointed to act as Head of the Department.
It is also worrying that, once again, an acting appointment has been made instead of a permanent one. There has been a vacancy in this position since November 2014 and it appears that no progress is being made in making a permanent appointment.
The department plays a crucial, central role in the creation of an environment that is conducive for job creation, growth and expansion of SMMEs. We need to see that a qualified professional with the right skills is appointed to lead this department, not simply a political appointee with the right political interests.
Media Enquiries:
Adv Boitumelo Babuseng, MPL
DA Provincial Spokesperson for Economic Affairs
082 302 2117 / 079 874 6179
Tharina Whittaker
Researcher
071 251 5558
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