MAMPARALANGA STRIKES AGAIN
After an absence of almost eight years I have once again decided to publish an online newsletter of my political perceptions for those people who are interested in them.
It is perhaps fitting if not ironic that the political shenanigans in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature once again form the basis of this first edition of my Political Perceptions.
In his Provincial Budget Speech on 15 March 2015 the MEC for Finance Hon Sikhumbuzo Khowane paid tribute to the late Minister Collins Chabane by quoting a 2004 speech in which he said “We want to make sure that our limited resources as allocated are used effectively and efficiently to achieve value for money”.
The MEC continued “As we approach this Provincial Budget, we fondly remember this gallant liberation fighter for accentuating the view that a true custodian of the public finance management legislation must hold. In his honour, we must re-commit to his views on fiscal prudency every day, and continue the journey that he started.”
He then announced that in 2015/16 the Provincial Legislature is allocated ‘R294.9 million to enhance its oversight work.’ An ordinary MPL earns R958 055 per annum (R79 838 per month)
Despite the fact that the Province is in a state of chaos:
- The health system is chaotic, there are a shortage of doctors, nurses and medication in the provincial hospitals and clinics;
- There are hundreds of schools without water, electricity and even proper toilets,’ long drop toilets’ are still used;
- The level of poverty remains unacceptable, for every 100 people living in Mpumalanga, 36 are living in poverty.
- The National Treasury is threatening to cut funding to eleven of the municipalities in Mpumalanga for owing large sums of money to Eskom;
- And so the list goes on and on;
However, despite all these serious problems the ANC seem to regard the dress worn by the DA Chief Whip in the legislature to be worthy of spending their time for which they have been allocated ‘R294.9 million to enhance its oversight work.’
This shows what is on the mind of the ANC Members of the Provincial Legislature.
On Tuesday 30 March, MEC for safety and security was answering oral question from the DA regarding the growing concern over the prevalence of drugs and prostitution in Witbank. Shortly after the MEC had finished answering the question a senior ANC MPL Victor Windvoël rose on a point of order, implying that there was an MPL present who was dressed ‘like the people under discussion’ (prostitutes).
The Speaker Ms Thandi Shongwe requested Windvoël to indicate which member he was referring to, he implied that he meant DA Chief Whip MS Jane Moloisi-Sithole. It was reported that Speaker Shongwe laughed, duly inspected Jane Sithole – and then sided with the ANC MP.
Sithole was told by the Speaker to “put on your scarf”. She also reminded all members that the rules stated that they must dress “formally” or “traditional”, she especially warned them against displaying cleavage.
Sithole was reported in the Daily Maverick as saying that “I was shocked by the response of the Speaker, to agree that I am dressed like a prostitute, “I think that her judgment got clouded completely. There was nothing to cover up?”
Once again the ANC Speaker responded by showing a total lack of fairness and integrity because previously she had reprimanded an EFF MPL who made an insulting comment about the dress of a female ANC MPL.
Can you make out from the photograph below why the dress caused all the problems in my opinion it displays no cleavage
Only in Mamparalanga can people elected, earning almost R1 mil. Per year, to eliminate poverty spend their time debating a dress ……SHAME !
Until next week,
CLIVE HATCH
