Housing audit needed to address access, accountability
by Adv Boitumelo Babuseng, MPL – DA Provincial Spokesperson for Economic Affairs
Date: 02 June 2017
Release: Immediate
Type: Press Statement
The decision by Premier Sylvia Lucas to rescind her cabinet reshuffle after, according to reports, she was ordered to do so by the ANC’s “top six”, raises the question whether the Premier is remote controlled by Luthuli House.
A characteristic of a healthy democracy is the separation of Party and State, yet it seems Lucas is being remote-controlled from Luthuli House.
If Premier Lucas wants to prove that she, and not the ANC, holds the executive reigns in this province, she cannot reinstate the objectionable MEC of Economic Development and Tourism, Mac Jack.
Earlier this year, the Premier referred serious allegations of financial mismanagement at the Department of Economic Development & Tourism to the Hawks for investigation. A pungent smell still hangs around the abuse of the Economic Growth and Development Fund under Jack’s leadership. Mac still has to answer to serious questions about financial mismanagement and wrongdoing in his department.
The DA has in the past also expressed our concerns about political interference with the administration of the Department of Economic Development & Tourism and strongly objected to the appointment of a Head of Ministry, Darius Babuseng, as acting head of the department, as the intention was clearly to facilitate political interference and mismanagement of public funds to benefit the politically connected elite.
If Premier Lucas has any backbone, she will not allow Jack to return to her cabinet as MEC, regardless of what Luthuli House may demand.
The remote-controlled Premier Lucas must stop gambling with governance in the Northern Cape. Especially given the province’s poor service delivery record, the Premier must focus on service delivery and not get caught up in internal strife in her deeply divided political party.
By undermining the executive power of the Premier, the ANC also undermines clean and effective service delivery in the province. Premier Lucas now has the opportunity to confirm her jurisdiction.
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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