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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in North West will write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance in the Provincial Legislature, Aaron Motswana, requesting him to summon Premier Mokgoro to explain his sudden decision to place the MEC for Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile, on special leave.     

Since Premier Mokgoro took office in 2018, MEC Cwaile is the fourth MEC to steer this Department. Placing MEC Cwaile on special leave without supplying any reasons is nothing other than a political chess game that will further destabilise the Department, with communities as the biggest losers.     

The timing of this decision so soon after the irregular contract awarded to King and Associates as the Programme Management Unit to oversee construction projects came to light, certainly raises eyebrows.     

It was reported that this three-year contract that was signed for R122 million, cost the Department R422 million and counting, as this contract is continuing past its expiry date of 31 October 2020.    

It further came to light that, despite the irregularity of this contract and all the public funds wasted, Premier Mokgoro has been fighting for this contract to be extended. It will therefore not be surprising if the Premier decides to place all MECs who disputes this extension on special leave.   

It is common knowledge that the Premier and MEC Cwaile have been at loggerheads over the extension of the current Human Settlements Head of Department, Neo Sephoti’s contract. MEC Cwaile is of the view that a new HOD should be appointed and the Premier disagrees.     

As if all this controversy is not enough, the Premier went ahead and appointed Desbo Mohono as acting MEC of COGHSTA. This after she has been implicated in a R1 million travel claim scandal that has been questioned by the DA. Instead of acting against her, she is rewarded with an additional department to oversee.   

The DA will monitor developments to ensure that the Premier is held accountable for his decisions that seem to further cripple a province that is already on its knees. 

 The ANC clearly has no appetite to put the people of North West first. The upcoming local government election presents an opportunity to put an end to the institutionalised corruption of the ANC government and vote for a DA that can rebuild what has been destroyed. 

Issued by DA