Premier Mabuza gives marching orders to the new MECs
19 February 2013
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has given the newly appointed members of the executive council the marching orders, stressing that they should not to take the citizens for granted but should deliver much-needed services.
Speaking at a Cabinet Meeting today [Tuesday, 19 February 2013] held in Skukuza inside the Kruger National Park, Premier Mabuza welcomed and wished the new MECs a laborious but an enjoyable stay in the provincial executive council.
Mabuza said the MECs should identify key issues to focus on, and should not allow “foreign bad tendencies” to cloud their work as it would distract them from working for the people.
He decried the tendency by some political leaders to take people for granted which subsequently created a distance between themselves and the people who entrusted the current administration to run the provincial government.
He explained that laziness, slow delivery of services and a poor sense of urgency by some leaders robbed off the people of decent services. He told them that the most painful experience he had to go through was dealing with a situation where government had to grapple with dealing with unspent money when people on the other hand did not have services.
“We expect you to pick the spear and run; we have a responsibility of staying together and work passionately for our people. Let us overcome the obstacles and attend to the challenges we have, and we must always remember that we are here at the prerogative of the ruling party,” said Mabuza.
Further, the Cabinet noted a report on assessment of hospital performance and improvement plan. Late last year, the Premier initiated and embarked on a fact finding mission on challenges affecting the provincial hospitals.
The process was later concluded by the Macro Policy Directorate in the Office of the Premier. Although the report painted a negative picture about the status quo of the hospitals, the Cabinet is satisfied that a short, medium and long action plan to deal with the challenges identified has been crafted and will be implemented soon once the newly appointed Health MEC Ms Candith Mashego-Dlamini has familiarised herself with the report.
The Cabinet also noted a report by the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs on disaster incidents which affected the province from December 2012 to January 2013.
The report reflected that the disaster incidents were mainly caused by the floods which washed away roads, bridges and the homes of the people. Disaster incidents were mainly reported in Ermelo, Nkomazi and in Bushbuckridge.
Although the disaster incidents claimed eight lives, the Cabinet appreciated the speedy response and effectiveness of the provincial Disaster Management teams in dealing with tragedies.
The Cabinet is still concerned that in most instances, the disaster management teams respond once disasters have struck, and has subsequently tasked the Department of Co-operative and Traditional Affairs to ensure proper functioning of early warning systems in order to move people to the places of safety before tragedies happen.
Other matters discussed were work in progress, and were therefore deferred to the next sitting of the Cabinet.
Appointments
The following appointments were approved by the Cabinet:
- Mr Bonginkosi Dlalisa was appointed General Manager: Internal Audit in the Office of the Premier.
- Mr Frans Mthombeni was appointed Senior Manager: Office of the Director-General.
- Ms Nombedesho Nkamba was appointed Head of Department: Finance.
- Mr Sarel Mtsweni was appointed Head of Department: Human Settlements.
- Ms Mpolokeng Makalobe was appointed Director: Monitoring and Evaluation in the Office of the Premier.
- Mr Maemu Sebitso was appointed Chief Director: Economic Planning in the Department of Economic Development, Environmental and Tourism.
- Ms Fikile Nyathi was appointed Director: Internal Audit in the Department of Economic Development, Environmental and Tourism.
- Mr Godfrey Mogoane was appointed Manager: Strategic Executive Management Support in the Department of Economic Development, Environmental and Tourism.
- Dr Cornelia Ackerman was appointed CEO of Rob Ferreira Hospital.
- Mr Albert Ramukumba was appointed CEO of Witbank Hospital.
- Ms Fridah Nyathi was appointed CEO of Ermelo Hospital.
- Ms Dikeledi Sekatane was appointed CEO of Mapulaneng Hospital.
- Mr Elphas Nkosi was appointed Senior Manager: HAS Programme in the Department of Health and Social Services.
- Ms Thembeni Mhlongo was appointed Chief Director: Social Welfare Services in the Department of Social Services.
- Ms Masande Mantashe was appointed Director: Strategy Development, Research and Policy Planning in the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 - 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
