THE Democratic Alliance has expressed astonishment following the news that former Msunduzi mayor, Zanele Hltashwayo has been appointed Manager of Youth, Gender and Transformation within the KwaZulu-Natal health department. 

Hlatshwayo was removed from her position as mayor of Msunduzi after the municipality collapsed and had to be placed under administration.  DA KZN Health spokesperson, John Steenhuisen said it was astounding that the very provincial government that had stripped her of her mayoral post had now employed her. 

"It also simply beggars belief that the Health department, which is battling to shake off an image of corruption and maladministration after the tenure of the previous MEC, has decided to employ Hlatshwayo."

Steenhuisen said that for as long as forensic reports emanating from Msunduzi municipality remained unreleased, it was "simply wrong" for Hlatshwayo to announce that she was in the clear. "Msunduzi was brought to its knees by rampant maladministration and corruption.  As former mayor and Exco chair, Zanele Hltashwayo still has a great deal to answer for regarding her disastrous tenure as political head of that municipality. For her to be employed by the health department at this stage is wholly premature, the department should, at the very least, have waited for the release of the forensic investigation before appointing her to this senior position."

Steenhuisen said Hlatshwayo's appointment boiled down to cadre deployment.  "There is no doubt that this appointment has more to do with cadre deployment than ability to do the job. This is evidenced by Hlatshwayo's dismal term at the helm of the municipality. It is instructive that, instead of punishing those who mismanage and abuse their position, the ANC rewards them.

Both Hlatshwayo, as former Msunduzi mayor and Alpha Shelembe, as former Msunduzi speaker, have been accommodated in plumb positions - again at taxpayers and ratepayers expense. This does nothing but expose the ANC's commitment to fighting corruption and maladministration as a complete sham."

Statement issued by John Steenhuisen, MPP, DA KZN Spokesperson for Health, June 6 2011

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