During the debate on the Gauteng State of the Province Address in the Gauteng Legislature, the FF Plus demanded that the MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, be dismissed immediately and that action be taken against the MEC for Local Governance and Housing, Paul Mashatile.
It is lamentable that the premier did not reprimand the MEC for Education for the attacks he launched on Afrikaans schools in the province. Lesufi, so to speak, goes from school to school and sets them on fire when he doesn’t get what he wants. The premier must dismiss Lesufi at once because he is merely spearheading a political agenda; he is not acting in the best interest of the province nor is he promoting education. According to section 29(2) of the Constitution, Afrikaans-speaking learners have the right to be educated in Afrikaans. At present, the MEC’s behaviour can only be described as unconstitutional and besides, he is inciting racialism and failing dismally at ensuring quality education for all in Gauteng.
The MEC for Local Governance and Housing, Paul Mashatile, must be called to account for the municipalities in the province that are failing. A good example of this is the Emfuleni Local Municipality’s critical financial state and poor service delivery. The premier does not seem to have the political will to address this crisis. How can the premier allow the MEC to just stand by and watch as Mogale City (Krugersdorp) Local Municipality sells off some its assets in an attempt to repay its debt? Mashatile is also violating the ethical code of conduct for executive members by not doing his duty.
The premier will have to remove Mashatile from his office as MEC immediately and not allow him to stay on until the end of March. He is currently spending too much time at Lethuli House and neglecting his responsibilities towards the province. Since his appointment, he has not even attended one of his department’s portfolio committee meetings.
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