Agri MEC hits back at DA for ‘blunder’ remark
Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana, the newly-appointed MEC for Agriculture lashed out at the DA, saying the opposition seldom appreciates work done by government.
POLOKWANE – This, after the DA last week issued a statement alleging the move by premier Stanley Mathabatha to appoint her as MEC for the agriculture portfolio, was too big a task for her.
Limpopo DA Leader, Jacques Smalle said while the DA cautiously welcomed the reshuffling of the Limpopo Cabinet by Mathabatha, they believe moving Mokaba-Phukwana to the Department of Agriculture was a blunder.
According to Smalle, Mokaba- Phukwana failed to implement new plans to address all the challenges facing the Department of Transport, Safety, Security and Liaison, which led to the increase of road fatalities and the increase of crime in the province under her helm.
She has been moved to the department after the death of Joy Matshoge who was killed in a car crash outside Mokopane a few months ago.
Smalle said Mokaba-Phukwana failed to address certain issues during her time as the MEC for Transport, Safety, Security and Liaison.
“She failed to initiate investigations against the CEO of Gateway Airports Authority Limited (GAAL), Thulani Zulu, after it was revealed that the entity procured goods and services from more than 35 companies and worth more than R7 million without seeking their valid tax clearance certificates for the financial years of 2013/2014 and 2014/2015,” explained Smalle.
He further said Mokaba-Phukwane failed to investigate the abuse of state vehicles by traffic officials. failed to capacitate remote police stations to effectively combat crime and also failed to take action against officials after the department spent more than R2,5 million on entertainment and catering between 2013 and 2015.
The DA claims Mokaba-Phukwana failed to deploy more traffic officials on the national highways and high-accident zones.
Smalle said, “The DA is deeply concerned at her inability to take action against corrupt officials in her department but opted to protect her ANC pals.
“In her new Agriculture portfolio, Mokaba-Phukwana must prioritise Fetsa Tlala which is a multi-million Rand anti-poverty agricultural programme, drought relief to farmers and provide the financial support to all emerging farmers.”
Mokaba-Phukwana said the DA is an opposition party and will never agree with anything the ANC does.
“I don’t expect a positive comment from the DA. The DA should do its research first before criticising.
“I was dealing with a lot of thing in the transport department, so I don’t think agriculture will be a problem at all.
“We cannot compare the two departments as they are completely different,” said Mokaba-Phukwana.
She further said ordinary people cannot criticise without giving a person a chance first.
She explained that road fatalities are caused by motorists with a dirty attitude.
“Our motorists have a bad attitude but expect help when they are in danger.
“You can put millions of traffic officers on the road but motorists simply don’t comply with the rules of the road.”
She said they had a lot of workshops but motorists simply don’t listen and the province will keep on losing people because of motorists’ bad attitude.
She further said it does not matter if the department is small or big, what matters is service delivery.
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