COSATU in Gauteng welcomes the appointment of the Provincial Executive Committee by Premier, David Makhura with some reservations in the portfolio of Education and Health. The federation was consulted extensively and agreed that the Premier has the prerogative to appoint his executive committee but in exercising this prerogative he should give due consideration to continuity.

We are disappointed on the changes in the education portfolio, it is our view that the Premier missed an opportunity for continuity taking into consideration the work done by Panyaza Lesufi in dealing with the transformation of education; as well as stability in the education sector.

The federation also welcomes the appointment in the health portfolio though with minor reservations. This is the portfolio that is synonymous with the Life Esidimeni saga, collapsed health services, poor management, poor labour relations, corruption and maladministration.

The department seriously needs stability and stern leadership to avoid what has happened in the past. We are hoping that Dr Bandile Masuku will turn around the Department, working together with all stakeholders in the sector including labour. Despite our reservations on the appointment, the federation will work together with Dr Masuku to rebuild the health system in Gauteng.

The period of the post-Provincial Conference of the ANC and NASREC honeymoon is over and everyone appointed will be held accountable without fear or favour. Going forward the federation will persuade all alliance partners to agree on the alliance monitoring and evaluation committee, where all those deployed to the government should provide progress to this structure so that a course correction could be made where service are not delivered as planned.

We congratulate all the appointed and we will work together with them but it does not mean that we will be mute on incompetence and corruption. The people of Gauteng have spoken during the election campaign hence they have given the ANC a chance to improve their lives and we are hoping that the team appointed will be equal to the task. We call all appointed MEC’s to urgently meet with our structures where they are deployed without fail.

We expect the team to continue with the following:

·         Insourcing of the government services;

·         Fast track the rapid land release program;

·         Re-industrialisation of Gauteng;

·         The revitalisation of the township economy on a large scale;

·         Improve monitoring and evaluation systems;

·         Build a developmental and capable state;

·         Building a capable health and education system;

·         Build a state-driven economy;

·         Establish a provincial state bank;

·         Implementing policies  favourable to the working class; and

·         Build the road infrastructure in working-class areas and collapse the e-tolls completely.

The federation will further request an audience with the Premier and his executive committee to deal with some residual issues from the 5^th Administration as well as our minor reservations in some portfolios as indicated above.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng

For more information, please contact COSATU Gauteng Chairperson-Amos Monyela on 079 493 5002 or COSATU Gauteng Deputy Chairperson Thabang Sonyathi   071 677 2769