ANC MEC screams at staff: ‘I don’t want stories! I want combi courts! Or resign!’

Explosive audio of Gauteng’s ANC MEC for sport, arts, culture and recreation, Faith Mazibuko, screaming at her staff demanding that certain processes be expedited ahead of the election has landed her in hot water after she allegedly showed little regard for procurement processes and tender regulations.

According to a report published by the AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, with the audio in question, Mazibuko can be heard demanding that so-called combi courts planned for disadvantaged communities be built earlier than planned as the party needed to use them to win elections.

Combi courts are facilities used for a combination of sporting activities.

“We want to use it to campaign and win elections!” yells Mazibuko in the audio at one point. She also refers to her departmental budget funds as “my money”.

This came after one of her staff members could be heard stating that the combi courts may have to be rolled over to the next financial year while another confirmed this, adding that the team had looked into getting this done sooner but apparently could not because of due process.

“I want those five combi courts! How you do that? If it means you go and construct them with your hands, you better do it! No rollover of that money of combi courts!” she can be heard shouting.

She said she didn’t want to hear her staff’s “stories”, she simply wanted the courts constructed by any means necessary and she would not let her staff make her look like “a fool out there”.

“You are going to work flat out … that those combi courts are constructed. If you are prepared to give me stories, then give your resignation letters. Then I’ll find new people who are prepared to spend my money.”

She repeatedly threatens her staff and tells them that if they won’t give her what she is demanding, then they had better hand in their resignations.

When asked about the audio in question, the MEC’s office invoked “confidentiality”, stating “the meeting referred to in your enquiry was a confidential meeting between the MEC and executive staff members of the department of which the MEC respects confidentiality thereof”.

The MEC’s office denied placing pressure on staff and requiring them to do anything illegal.

“At no stage in any meeting with her staff did the MEC give unlawful instructions, except to stress the importance of meeting targets and fulfilling promises made to communities as part of service delivery and improving the lives of the people of Gauteng,” added her office.

Listen to the full audio below, which ends off with Mazibuko chastising a white and Indian staff member after she claims they were speaking back to her when they had tried to set the record straight.

READ NEXT: Nomvula Mokonyane, Malusi Gigaba and Bathabile Dlamini make the ANC candidate list

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.