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MEC of Economic Development Environment Agriculture and Rural Development Lebogang Maile (MPL) notes misleading media reports, carried by Independent Group’s daily, The Star “MEC snub provincial standing committee, p4, Wednesday 15, 2017”, falsely alleging that he snubbed Gauteng’s standing committee on public accounts (Scopa) sitting that took place yesterday Tuesday 14 November 2017 at the Legislature.

The allegations that MEC Maile snubbed the sitting are not only false and misleading but sensational journalism intended to tarnish Gauteng Provincial Government’s reputation and standing in society.

MEC Maile, together with senior officials from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) were scheduled to appear before the committee to provide clarity and account on the alleged pre-payments of more than R47.7 million paid out to several companies.

The article by The Star newspaper boarders on defamation of character and further projects the MEC as absent from performing his duties. To set the record straight, MEC Maile is currently out of the country, attending an International Conference on Climate Change in Germany, representing Gauteng Provincial Government, as sanctioned by Premier David Makhura.

It is imperative to state that climate change is typical environmental issue aligned to MEC’s portfolio as MEC responsible for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development in Gauteng therefore his attendance to the Conference is part of his duties attached to his Executive mandate.

A formal letter of apology was sent 24 hours before the sitting of Scopa indicating the MEC’s unavailability to appear before Committee, and subsequently a reply was received from the Committee Coordinator Mr Simon Magelego stating that the sitting has been cancelled and a revised schedule will be availed in due course.

When the dates for the new sittings have been finalised the MEC will be available to publicly account on issues related to his portfolio, including figures mentioned in the article.

Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government