Northern Cape premier Dr. Zamani Saul says his second tenure will be characterised by an accelerated and substantial impact, as he and his team of new MECs are experienced and dedicated to continue what they started in 2019.
His executive team, together with HODs and senior managers, will attend a lekgotla (meeting) in the next weeks to discuss priority issues like infrastructure, municipal water and sanitation issues, the mental hospital, and improved audit outcomes for departments and municipalities.
Saul announced his new cabinet on Thursday, 27 June. The cabinet has been reduced from ten MECs to seven because the ANC lost three seats after the recent election, in which it also lost its majority.
With the number of MPLs reduced to 15, there were not enough left to appoint ten MECs after the election of the premier, speaker, deputy speaker, chief whip, deputy chief whip, chairperson of chairpersons and deputy chairperson of chairpersons.
Some ministries were merged, but the number of departments remains at ten. As the departments of Education, Health and Roads and Public Works are primary focus areas, they remain single entities.
The latter department must build and maintain libraries, schools, clinics, and roads.
“This department will be the driving seat for massive infrastructure roll-out in the province. We need to build capacity to deliver projects on time and on budget. There will be improved continuity this time around,” Saul says.
The MECs are:
- Bentley Vass for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Transport, Safety and Liaison;
- Abraham Vosloo, a qualified teacher, for Education;
- Maruping Lekwene for Health;
- Mase Manopole for Agriculture and Land Reform Environmental Affairs and Nature Conservation;
- Venus Blennies for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism;
- Fufe Makatong for Roads and Public Works; and
- Nontobeko Vilakazi for Social Development, Sport, Arts and Culture, Youth, Women and People with Disabilities.
Saul says it is his last tenure as premier, and he has serious focus areas.
“I want no child in this province who is not attending a decent school. I want good public health for all. Health and education comprise 80% of the provincial budget of R22 billion.
“Another issue is to grow our economy. One huge constraint is that Transnet cannot transport dry mining products from mines to harbours.
“Even though we created 4 000 jobs in the province, it was cancelled out by retrenchments in the mining sector as mines had to stockpile products as it cannot export owing to Transnet’s logistical problems. It is unfortunate that Transnet will not allow competitor private rail operators to build their own rail networks.
“We also need to build 777 km of new powerlines for renewable energy operators to connect to the grid to distribute energy. The minister of Electricity has been very helpful to help increase the grid capacity, as 60% of renewable projects are situated in our province.
“We must privatise the Northern Cape to bring solutions to the country’s economical challenges.”
Charné Kemp
www.news24.com
