Gauteng Premier Lesufi frustrated by legislation preventing him from removing underperforming HODs
On Sunday, Lesufi announced that he had reshuffled the HODs in the provincial government.
ALSO READ:
- Lesufi reshuffles poor performing heads of departments
- Lesufi releases second batch of forensic investigation reports
He said the move followed the underspending of R1.3 billion of the previous financial year's budget, the missing of performance targets, and adverse audit outcomes.
About five years ago, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament (MP) Makoti Khawula criticised the African National Congress (ANC)'s strategy of moving compromised people from one portfolio to another.
This is essentially what Lesufi did by moving underperforming HODs from one portfolio to another.
However, Lesufi said the reshuffle should not be downplayed, as it's the first time ever that action has been taken against underperforming HODs.
"I wish it was like politicians. You can say that you are reshuffled and go home, but those that are in administration, there are processes, and we don't want to lose money or cases on the basis of recklessness."
As a result of the reshuffle, there are now vacancies in six departments, which Lesufi said would be filled by capable HODs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
'Technical challenges' hampered air forces' response to deadly E Cape floods
DA MP Patrick Atkinson said it took a full week after the onset of the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape for the SAAF to deploy a single Oryx helicopter to assist with flood relief efforts. Image: MSCA Search and Rescue/ FILE 'TECHNICAL challenges' were responsible for the delayed deployment of the South African Air Force (SAAF) to assist during the devastating floods which claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the Eastern Cape last month, says Defence Minister Angie Motshekga. 'The challenges were technical. However, they were corrected, hence we managed to send assistance in the form of an Oryx. 'Upon receiving the second request for assistance on 16 June 2025, one Oryx helicopter capability became available and was tasked to deploy on 17 June 2025,' Motshekga said in her response. She made the comments when responding to parliamentary questions from the EFF and the DA amid the continued underfunding of the SAAF. DA MP Patrick Atkinson said it took a full week after the onset of the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape for the SAAF to deploy a single Oryx helicopter to assist with flood relief efforts. EFF MP Carl Niehaus noted with concern that the SAAF was not deployed during the critical early stages of the floods in Mthatha and other parts of the Eastern Cape, and that the response was limited to one helicopter two weeks later. Niehaus and Atkinson asked for the reasons and an explanation for the SAAF's failure to respond in a timely and adequate manner when over 100 people had died and hundreds were displaced. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Niehaus also pressed the minister on whether the late response by the SAAF was due to the failure to maintain the Oryx fleet by state-owned enterprises Denel Aeronautics. Motshekga said state-owned enterprises' arms manufacturer Denel only played a very minor part in the lack of Oryx helicopters. 'They are unable to continue with servicing and repairs due to a lack of funding for spares and the long lead time (up to two years) that it takes the original equipment manufacturers (Airbus and Safran) to deliver ordered spares,' she said. She was asked about measures that have been implemented to ensure the readiness of the SAAF for future disasters. In her response, Motshekga also said there were no spares of major components, and the SAAF experiences a very long lead time when ordering spares from the original equipment manufacturers. 'Currently, there are no measures in place as the SAAF continues to be underfunded, and the flow of spares from overseas original equipment manufacturers remains extremely low.'
IOL News
4 hours ago
- IOL News
'Technical challenges' hampered air forces' response to deadly E Cape floods
DA MP Patrick Atkinson said it took a full week after the onset of the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape for the SAAF to deploy a single Oryx helicopter to assist with flood relief efforts. Image: MSCA Search and Rescue/ FILE 'TECHNICAL challenges' were responsible for the delayed deployment of the South African Air Force (SAAF) to assist during the devastating floods which claimed the lives of more than 100 people in the Eastern Cape last month, says Defence Minister Angie Motshekga. 'The challenges were technical. However, they were corrected, hence we managed to send assistance in the form of an Oryx. 'Upon receiving the second request for assistance on 16 June 2025, one Oryx helicopter capability became available and was tasked to deploy on 17 June 2025,' Motshekga said in her response. She made the comments when responding to parliamentary questions from the EFF and the DA amid the continued underfunding of the SAAF. DA MP Patrick Atkinson said it took a full week after the onset of the devastating floods in the Eastern Cape for the SAAF to deploy a single Oryx helicopter to assist with flood relief efforts. EFF MP Carl Niehaus noted with concern that the SAAF was not deployed during the critical early stages of the floods in Mthatha and other parts of the Eastern Cape, and that the response was limited to one helicopter two weeks later. Niehaus and Atkinson asked for the reasons and an explanation for the SAAF's failure to respond in a timely and adequate manner when over 100 people had died and hundreds were displaced. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Niehaus also pressed the minister on whether the late response by the SAAF was due to the failure to maintain the Oryx fleet by state-owned enterprises Denel Aeronautics. Motshekga said state-owned enterprises' arms manufacturer Denel only played a very minor part in the lack of Oryx helicopters. 'They are unable to continue with servicing and repairs due to a lack of funding for spares and the long lead time (up to two years) that it takes the original equipment manufacturers (Airbus and Safran) to deliver ordered spares,' she said. She was asked about measures that have been implemented to ensure the readiness of the SAAF for future disasters. In her response, Motshekga also said there were no spares of major components, and the SAAF experiences a very long lead time when ordering spares from the original equipment manufacturers. 'Currently, there are no measures in place as the SAAF continues to be underfunded, and the flow of spares from overseas original equipment manufacturers remains extremely low.'
Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
ANC defeats EFF and MK in Motherwell but is losing ground
The ANC retained a safe seat in the southern part of Motherwell, Nelson Mandela Bay, although it lost ground to the EFF and uMkhonto Wesizwe party. The EFF was well ahead of MK in the race for second place. Ward 23 (Motherwell) Nelson Mandela Bay: ANC 64% (76%) EFF 25% (13%) MK 10 % Azapo 1% (<1%) The setting: Motherwell is northwest of the Gqeberha city centre. It sits between the Zwartkops River and the R335 road which links the city with Addo. Ward 23 is in the southern part of Motherwell. The ward is close to the Markman industrial area and next to the R335 road. Kaizer Chiefs defender Bongani Sam and artist George Pemba are famous sons of Motherwell. The 2021 local government election: The ANC won more than three-quarters of the vote for an easy win. The EFF was the only other party to get into double percentage figures on the ward ballot. The DA finished a distant third with 4%. The 2024 provincial election: The ANC won 69% on the provincial ballot in the ward. The EFF was second with 20% and the DA third on 3%. The uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party only obtained 1%, while the Azanian People's Organisation (Azapo) had negligible support. The by-election: The ward councillor died. The ANC retained the ward by a margin of more than 930 votes, sweeping all four voting districts. The ANC did best at the Enqileni Primary School district where it obtained 72% support. It won more than two-thirds of the vote at two other voting stations. The party was pushed at Dumani Primary School in Motherwell 3 where it won 53%. The EFF's second-place finish was built on a strong showing at Dumani Primary School where it won 35%, while it took more than 20% at Enqileni Primary School. MK got into double percentage figures in two districts. Its 15% return at Motherwell Community Hall was its best result in the ward. MK will be satisfied with a 10% haul in a metropolitan township with almost no Zulu-speaking voters. While it was unable to match the 16% it obtained in a recent Motherwell by-election, this result suggests the party has established a foothold in Motherwell and will pose a threat to the ANC's proportional representation councillor tally after the next local government election. The next round of by-elections will be on 20 August when the ANC will defend two seats – in King Sabata Dalindyebo (Mthatha Southernwood), Eastern Cape, and in Knysna (Nekkies Dam-Se-Bos) in the Western Cape. The DA will face fierce competition in Matzikama (Vanrhynsdorp) in the Western Cape. DM
