PUBLISHING DATES

Members of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature did the unexpected last week, when they gave the Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism near-impossible deadlines when it became clear that the department seemingly failed to comply with the rules and orders of the legislature.

During the Department’s budget vote debate last Friday, MPL Thabelang Maabane presented a litany of shortcomings that characterise the department in the period leading up to the presentation of the policy and budget speech. These included failure to submit correct documents and failure to submit documents on time and that where such documents were submitted, they were fraught with errors.

The department was also instructed to resubmit its costed Implementation plans for consideration by the Legislature before the end of September 2009.

“The department must redo the costing of the Implementaiton Plan for the third quarter in Programme 2 and submit the re-worked portion on or before the 30th September 2009,” said Maabane.

Earlier this year, the Head of Department, Mandla Mazibuko, suspended almost the entire senior management of the department after they permitted employees to leave early to attend the burial of their colleague, the late Chief Financial Officer, George Msiza.

One senior manager who was fired by Mazibuko, Winnie Rambau, has since appealed against her dismissal in a case that is costing the department hundreds and thousands of rands.

Mazibuko himself has successfully evaded disciplinary action after he was found to have irregularly appointed a company R Kalidass to perform asset evaluation at the Bushbuckridge Office, costing the department R777 800 in February this year.

The Integrity Management Unit in the Office of the Premier recommended in June this year, that Mazibuko be charged with financial misconduct. If found guilty, he faces immediate dismissal.

Ziwaphi also exposed Mazibuko, after he awarded himself R140 000 a bursary to do a Master of Business Administration (MBA) course. He has yet to be questioned on the above-mentioned charges.

Very often, the opposition parties such as the Democratic Alliance, have a field day in criticising the inefficiency of government officials, however, this time it seems the tide has changed. The impatience of the members of the ruling African National Congress was clearly visible, when the Legislature took 46 resolutions, the majority of which must be responded to before the end of September 2009.

“We were given a mandate by the people of Mpumalanga that together with them lead this province, and it is only because of that, that we must not fail them,” said a visibly irritated Maabane.

MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Jabulani Mahlangu, who inherited the department from Craig Padayachee, committed to respond to the resolutions, but not before reminding the sitting that  responsible for sorry state of the department.

“I am glad the HOD is here, and I will personally follow-up on all the matters raised.