The newly appointed MEC for public roads and transport, Ms Dumisile Nhlengethwa, is up in arms and has already hit the ground running.
A few days after taking oath of office, she was already seen on the field during the bus accident at White River and addressing matters on the ground.
“I am not starting this department from the ground, it has been there for 20 years already. My duty is to take the baton and run with it, as the ANC has entrusted me with such responsibilities,” said Nhlengethwa.
The ANC stalwart is no stranger to leadership, as she joined the National Assembly in 1999, and served three terms to Cape Town. “This new post will enhance the experience I have already obtained from the positions I have held for the past 15 years,” she added.
Among others, she has served in the Department of Education, she was a whip for safety and security, served as the chairperson of the Agricultural and Land Affairs Portfolio Committee, and was on a joint committee of Monitoring of Status of Women.
The former chairperson for cooperative governance and traditional affairs promised Mpumalanga residents that she would act swiftly on the status of roads.
“As the new MEC, I will personally go around the province to assess all the programmes taking place in terms of road amendments, and I will ensure that we work closely together with the municipalities,” she elaborated.
She also took the opportunity to encourage the youth to stop looking for jobs and start creating their own businesses.
The MEC narrated the melancholic yet funny story of how she became involved in politics at a very young age. “My parents lived in Swaziland and South Africa respectively. One day when I had to cross the border to SA, I was arrested because they suspected me to be a terrorist.”
Nhlengethwa was detained in Piet Retief, and there were pipes which were used for communication.
“The voices on the other side asked me why I was arrested, I told them I was a suspected terrorist.
“They asked me if I had any idea who Nelson Mandela was, but I did not. That is when they started educating me about politics and even advised me to go on a hunger strike,” she added.
The 12-year-old admitted to cheating during the strike as she narrated in chuckles.
After being released from jail, she went on to educate her peers about the struggle and became more involved in politics. “I then became leader of SRC and everything was all about politics.”
The determined and fearless leader seemed to know exactly what she was in for and how to go about it. Mpumalanga Mirror wishes her all the best.
