ANC premier nominations show they are not serious about fighting corruption

20 May 2014

Today's premier announcements by the ANC are yet another indication that the ANC are not committed to curbing corruption and promoting accountability in government.

The return of problematic premiers such as Ace Magashule, Sylvia Lucas, David Mabuza and Senzo Mchunu despite the disastrous terms they've just served is simply a scandal and likely to compromise service delivery and clean governance.

Last year, Free State Premier Ace Magashule was implicated in a damning report by National Treasury into the contracts between Letlaka Media and the Office of the Premier. JGL Forensic Services revealed various transgressions and deviations from the legislative framework (Regulations 16A6.5 and 16A6.6 governing transversal contracts) and Treasury's report recommended disciplinary action against implicated individuals. However to our knowledge no such action has been taken and Premier Magashule has refused to answer DA questions in the legislature on the matter nor the R140 million spent on one of the province's website.

Premier Magashule was also accused of abusing his power to secure permission for the Gupta plane to land at Waterkloof Airbase for the family's wedding. Magashule's invitational letter was issued under business-related pretences, however solid evidence suggesting that any official business was done with the Free State government is yet to materialise.

Last year Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas was implicated in a blatant violation of the Executive Ethics Code, among other regulations, after reports surfaced that she had misused her official credit card to buy fast food and groceries amounting to R53 159 in her first 10 weeks in office. R11 956 of this figure was spent on outlets in Kimberley, where she has an official residence.

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza supposedly spent R5 million in public funds on a new Audi A8, a BMW X5 and a Range Rover - in a single year. According to the Auditor General's report for 2012/13, unauthorised expenditure increased from R1.3 million in 2011/12 to R136 million in 2012/2013 in Mpumalanga. This is a 100 times more than the previous year. In total, wasteful expenditure in this province amounts to R369 million.

Frankly the people of these provinces deserve better than the mere political appointments parading as Premiers forced upon them. The ANC went to great lengths to conceal their candidate lists before the elections, and it is now clear to see why.

The ANC is far more preoccupied with enriching its pockets and maintaining the status quo, as opposed to providing adequate leadership and honouring its electoral promises.

The DA's Premier candidate, Helen Zille has transformed the Western Cape into a bastion of clean governance and continues to lead a province committed to delivering services and opportunities to all. We challenge the ANC's candidates to emulate her exemplary record.

Statement issued by James Selfe MP, Chairperson of DA Federal Executive, May 20 2014

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