President
6 February 2006
Cape Town - Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Rev. Makhenkesi
Stofile, has noted with great concern news reports in both print and broadcast
mediums this morning, suggesting that he questioned the appointment of
provincial Premiers by the President.
The scrupulous allegations quoted the Minister as saying that "the
appointment of Premiers by President should be changed". The Minister
vehemently denies these reports with great contempt. While it is in fact true
that the Minister addressed mourners at a funeral of the late chairperson of
South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) in Eastern Cape, Mr S Mnguni,
in Lusikisiki yesterday, his comments at the gathering were misinterpreted. He
said the National General Council of the African National Congress (ANC) has
proposed that the ANC should revisit this prerogative of the appointment of
Premiers by the President. In the Eastern Cape, it was then decided that the
resolution would be discussed at the Provincial Conference in June this
year.
In his capacity as chairperson of the ANC in the Eastern Cape, the Minister
wishes to categorically deny this malicious claim and views this untruthful and
biased reporting as total disregard for integrity and honesty. "I condemn with
the strongest available terms these reports and further wish to clarify that I
was quoted out of context. Such bias and rhetoric reporting is not good for our
democracy, at a time when we are hosting our democratic local government
elections," said the Minister.
"The National General Council had resolved that this question be referred
back for discussion and then be sent National General Conference in 2007," said
the Minister.
Minister Stofile maintains close working relations with members of the ANC
within Eastern Cape and if there was an issue that needed deliberation and
consultation, he would follow the protocol policy and not raise it through the
media. "Instead of focusing on delivery issues as stipulated by the President's
State of the Nation speech on Friday, it is worrying that some of the media
people choose to use this time to report falsely on issues which are aimed at
derailing the progress of delivery to our people."
Enquiries:
Mr Bongi Sishi
Tel: (021) 465 5506
Issued by: Ministry of Sport and Recreation
6 February 2006
