Reports in today's Sunday newspapers suggest that Gauteng Premier David Makhura has been fired and is about to be replaced by MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

This move does not surprise the DA as Makhura has lost the support of his own party in Gauteng. This means there was a good chance he may have been voted out as the Premier as a result of the DA Motion of No Confidence (MONC) submitted to the Gauteng Legislature recently.

The DA already received support from various opposition parties for the MONC and we also expected some of Makhura's own colleagues to vote against him if a secret ballot was to be allowed.

Makhura has become known as the no action Premier. Full of promises but very empty on delivery. The DA has built a very strong case as to why Makhura is unfit to continue as Premier of Gauteng as he continues failing to arrest corruption in his administration, curb crime and stimulate economic growth in the province.

The DA does not expect a better performance from MEC Lesufi who is mooted to replace Makhura. He will try and start off with a bang, but that will be the only action we can expect from him. Gauteng residents can expect more of the same from Lesufi as he will be a hamstrung premier who will not be allowed by his party to act against corruption. He would ultimately have to answer to a PEC controlled by his rival, MEC Lebogang Maile, rendering Lesufi a lame duck premier.

The only way to deal with constant failing ANC premiers is by voting the ANC out of power in Gauteng in 2024 and replacing it with a capable DA government.

 

Issued by Solly Msimanga MPL - Official Leader of the Opposition