Picture: The former North West MEC for Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West acting Premier, Nono Maloyi has fired North West MEC for Social Development, Boitumelo Moiloa. Moiloa along with the Head of Department (HoD), Relebohile Mofokane were suspended by the North West Premier, Bushy Maape two months ago due to the squabble between over the ‘irregular’ awarding of R133 million security tender.
Two months ago, Moiloa suspended three employees. She said her department has established prima-facie information that led to the suspension of these employees. It is alleged that, Mofokane signed off R133 million security tender, even though the Provincial Internal Audit warned about some discrepancies in bid documents.
Maape said then, over the past months, he has been coordinating the implementation of directives on professionalisation of the public service, which includes amongst other things, a system of delegations between Executive Authorities (MECs) and Accounting Officers (HOD’s).
“Unfortunately, this has not been successful in the North West Department of Social Development leading to a near administrative paralysis, which risked finalisation of the Annual Performance Plan (APP), Departmental Budget for the 2023/24 financial year, and potentially the submission of the Annual Financial Statement (AFS) as well as the Annual Performance Information (API) for 2022/23 financial year.
“This discord has the potential if not managed to paralyse service delivery and harm the poor and vulnerable persons who are serviced by the department. I am compelled and required by the constitution as the person vested with the Executive Authority of the province to intervene on behalf of good governance and for the sake of the poor and the marginalised, whose livelihoods are dependent on the services offered by the department,” he said.
Maape appointed the North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport & Recreation, Kenetswe Mosenogi as acting MEC for Social Development, while Obakeng Mongale was acting Head of Department. He added that, they have constituted a team of experienced senior public servants led by the Office of the Premier to assist Mosenogi and Mongale during their acting, with a particular mandate being on managing the very important audit process, which resumes from 1 June 2023.
Now, Maloyi said: “I wish to take this opportunity to inform the people of the North West of my decision in terms of Section 132 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic to effect changes in the composition of the Provincial Executive Council by releasing Moiloa from her position as a Member of the Executive (MEC) responsible for Social Development, while Mofokane remain on leave.
“Lazarus Mokgosi will take over as the new MEC for Social Development with effect from 12 July 2023. The acting HoD, Mongale will continue with his acting role until the end of July 2023. The intervention is making positive progress and nearing completion. The public will be informed in due course of the outcome of various areas of intervention in the department.”
He further thanked Moiloa for her contribution during her tenure as MEC. Maloyi also congratulated Mokgosi as the new MEC and wished him all of the best.
TaungDailyNews 