Newly elected KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu chaired his first Cabinet meeting in Pietermaritzburg yesterday, Wednesday and welcomed Education MEC Peggy Nkonyeni who was appointed earlier in the week.
Cabinet received a report on pockets of public protests in Durban and Richmond, in the Midlands.
It condemned the violent nature of some of the demonstrations and urged law enforcement agencies to move swiftly to isolate criminality in order for genuine service delivery matters to be addressed by the relevant municipalities.
Cabinet endorsed Premier Mchunu’s decision to set up a task team of Members of the Executive Council to look into the protests and report back to Cabinet with recommendations.
The team, to be led by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube, includes the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Willies Mchunu; MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works Ravi Pillay; Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo and Finance MEC Ina Cronje.
Said Premier Mchunu: “Service delivery is a priority for our Government and we have an obligation to ensure that all our communities benefit. “While we recognize the democratic right enshrined in the Constitution for people to protest, we must draw a bold line between expressions of genuine grievances and underhand, criminal activities, some with undeclared political motives. I expect the team to report back at the next Cabinet meeting in order for us to stabilize these areas as soon as possible.”
RTI commission period extended
Cabinet has approved the application for a final extension to the sitting period of the Commission of Inquiry into the death of eight Road Transportation Inspectorate applicants in Pietermaritzburg in 2012.
The Commission’s life will be extended from 15 October to March 2014 to allow sufficient time for the work to be completed and a report submitted to the Premier.
It was established by former Premier Zweli Mkhize and is chaired by Advocate Thandi Norman.
Cabinet congratulates MECs Dhlomo and Cronje
Cabinet has congratulated Health MEC Sibongiseni Dhlomo and Finance MEC Ina Cronje and their teams for the successful conclusion of negotiations for the transfer of McCords Hospital to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
Briefing Cabinet, Dr Dhlomo said a service level agreement as well as an interim management agreement had been submitted to the McCords Board for signature before money is transferred by the Department.
Funding for the interim period will be R42-million, while the cost of the takeover will depend on the independent evaluator’s determination.
Premier Mchunu said: “As Government we are extremely pleased that this matter has been resolved amicably. The hospital has a long history of excellent service to the people of KwaZulu-Natal and we had to ensure that we all did what is in the best interests of our people’.
Murder of Margaret Lembede
Cabinet has condemned outright the gruesome killing of an elderly woman, Ms Margaret Lembede at Nkomazi, in Umbumbulu. She was strangled and brutally murdered with a rope in a rondavel on September 22.
Premier Mchunu said violence against the most vulnerable in our society, including children and the disabled, was totally unacceptable.
Cabinet commended Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Willies Mchunu for his intervention on behalf of Government to assist the family.
