The Speaker of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, Noxolo Kiviet, has sworn-in Mr Vumile Lwana as a new Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) for the 5th term. He was sworn on Tuesday, 9 September 2014 at the Speaker’s Boardroom. The void was created by the resignation of former Member, Phila Nkayi, last week.
The Speaker welcomed the former Makana Local Municipality Mayor to the ‘army of people who has just finished three months in office’. “As a former Mayor and public representative, I am certain that you will be comfortable with the work that you will be doing. There is no much difference just that you will be serving the people on a broader spectrum now. The work of O.R. Tambo will never change, it is always about people, the have-not’s and the poorest of the poor. We have to get them out of poverty and give meaning to the term Home of Legends”, she said.
The Chief Whip of the majority party in the Legislature, MPL Mzoleli Mrara confirmed that necessary procedures were followed by the party before deciding that MPL Lwana should fill the void. “I have been mandated by the African National Congress to affirm that it has entrusted Comrade Lwana with the task of joining the Legislature as one of its Members”, he said.
The new Member, who hails from Grahamstown, has served the African National Congress as a Mayor of Makana Local Municipality from 2000 to 2006 and from Office of the Speaker- Media Liaison Unit from 2009 until 2011, respectively. He also served in the former Cacadu District Municipality as a member of the Mayoral Committee and holds leadership positions in various structures. His abilities and leadership qualities speaks volumes as he is also the Convener of Sarah Baartman Regional Executive Committee and serves in its Economic Transformation Sub Committee.
The charismatic MPL has thanked his organisation for trusting him to serve in the Legislature. “It is an honour for me to be elected to serve the organisation at this level. The ANC has entrusted me with its vision from the nomination process until to date. I know that my experience in the public sector, civil society and in the business sector will come in handy,” MPL Lwana said.
The newly elected Member will serve in the following Portfolio committees:
- Office of the premier
- Human Settlements
- Rural Development & Agrarian Reform.
All relevant documents to equip the new Member in his position as an MPL were made available. The Deputy Speaker, MPL Bulelwa Tunyiswa, Chairperson of Committees, MPL Alfred Mtsi and Deputy Chairperson of Committees, MPL Ntombovuyo Nkopane were also in attendance.
Enquiries:
Velisile Bukula
Tel: 040 609 1591
Cell: 071642 3495
Fax: 086 225 9780
E-mail: vvbukula@ecleg.gov.za
