Gauteng MEC Mazibuko appears before Human Rights Commission
BRAAMFONTEIN – Mazibuko will go through a sensitivity and diversity programme with HRC.
Gauteng sports MEC Faith Mazibuko has apologised for her ‘rant’ remarks heard in a leaked audio recording during her recent department’s executive meeting and she has accepted her fix made by the Human Rights Commission.
Mazibuko is heard lashing out at the department’s chief financial officer (CFO) and head of the department (HOD) about the rollout of ‘combi courts’ allegedly to be used as part of ANC campaign to sway voters.
In the recording, the MEC is allegedly heard threatening staff using ‘racist’ language to apparently build sporting facilities and use these events to campaign for the ANC ahead of 8 May elections.
Mazibuko was then summoned to the human rights body in Braamfontein to enable herself to clarify her remarks.
Briefing the media, Mazibuko said the unfortunate incident happened when they were discussing department’s reports ahead of the financial year of 2018-19 ending in March.
In February, provincial departments have to account for the work done and Mazibuko said if not, their books would closed and based on that, they had to relook at their challenges.
“So, the report indicated that we might have been underspending on the rollout of infrastructure after we had rolled out 20 combi courts and our contract with Sports Trust had ended as per the agreement,” Mazibuko said.
“That to me sounded baffling because I thought we had an MoU [memorandum of understanding] whereas we had a contract and we have been re-allocated money to roll out five other combi courts. With the contract now ended, to me that didn’t sound convincing and out of frustration I became angry – really I wish to apologise profusely because it was uncalled for to be angry.”
She added, “I may be loud when I speak and sound as if I’m shouting…sometimes we have to speak louder and the truth of the matter is that I was not bullying them nor I was threatening them.”
The MEC said it was not her intentions to segregate, ridicule or even to victimise them in the manner that came out of that recording claiming it was not even racial.
Jonas Sibanyoni, the HRC commissioner, said they’ve accepted MEC’s apology as human rights watchdogs.
Sibanyoni said they’ve prescribed a one-day sensitivity and diversity programme which the MEC will go through to resolve the matter.
Details: Human Rights Commission 011 877 3600.
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Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/alex-news/98285/anti-racism-week-hate-hate-no-matter-shape-form-comes/
