Corruption kicks into high gear as Lesufi announces new Executive Council

7 October 2022     

The uninspiring changes to newly elected Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s executive indicate the ANC’s dedication to using public coffers for personal gain while abandoning a commitment to service delivery to the Province’s most vulnerable.

With an astonishing 37% unemployment rate - which increased from 24.6% in 2014 - one would have expected radical changes to address the failing government and lawlessness in the province. But instead, Lesufi announced more of the same.

Lesufi’s reshuffle saw only two members of the previous executive council (MECs) being removed and seven reshuffled. While the executive itself was enlarged to reward Lesufi’s cronies which will ultimately cost the taxpayer millions in additional salaries and sure-to-be botched projects.

Instead of firing former transport MEC Phalama Jacob Mamabolo - who for three years failed to deliver on ANC election promises to get rid of the e-tolls - Lesufi promoted him to the position of MEC for finance.

Faith Mazibuko was retained as MEC of community safety while under her term, Gauteng theft, murder and kidnapping statistics continue to soar out of control according to official police statistics.

Meanwhile, Lebogang Maile, who had a disastrous term as MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, was retained. Among Maile's failures, he unlawfully placed the City of Tshwane under administration in 2020 which cost the city as much as R4 billion.

Moreover Morakane Mosupyoe, who failed to have any impact as Social Development MEC, was reshuffled to Sport and Recreation, and former Infrastructure Development and Property Management MEC Tasneem Motara were reshuffled to Economic Development and Tourism.

Lesufi’s reshuffle reiterates the leadership crisis that the ANC experiences: that the party has a lack of both capable and ethical leaders to improve the lives of the poor, and instead reverts to chair swapping in a bid to save face in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.

Gauteng residents will not be encouraged by these changes, while voters will see through Lesufi’s empty promises of removing e-tolls during his term - a promise his party already made back in 2016.

The only way to restore Gauteng to its rightful place as South Africa’s economic powerhouse is to remove the party from power and replace them with leaders focused not on themselves but on improving the lives of ordinary residents.

Issued by Bongani Baloyi, Gauteng Provincial Chairperson, ActionSA, 7 October 2022