The attempt by the Eastern Cape MEC for Health, Sidiswa Gomba, to blame Apartheid for the fruitless squandering of R10 million to procure a hundred “ambulance” motorbikes does not hold water and the matter must be thoroughly investigated.
Gomba’s statement comes as no surprise for the FF Plus. In fact, the party sees it as an admission by the MEC that she is unable to accept responsibility for the poor management, decision-making and possibly also irregularities that relate to the failed project.
Blaming Apartheid for everything is a common strategy used by many ANC leaders in an attempt to cover up their own incompetence. The concept of accountability no longer exists for the ANC government because apparently the excuse of Apartheid totally negates it. Corruption, mismanagement and fraud are all justified by this single word.
It cannot go on like this. Public officials must realise that incompetence and crime cannot be excused by blaming Apartheid.
It is very interesting to note that the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, who attended the function where the motorbikes were received and who publicly congratulated the MEC, is now also criticizing the project.
The utter deterioration of medical services not only in the province, but also in the rest of South Africa, is not just shocking, but a shame. Every day, the media reports on the terrible conditions in state facilities and the closure of units in hospitals and clinics as well as people who have contracted Covid-19 but cannot be hospitalised.
It is clear that the MEC and her Department are not able to handle the pandemic. The number of new Covid-19 cases are increasing every day and the province’s health care services are heading for disaster, which could result in a massive loss of lives.
Placing the Department under administration will not make the pandemic disappear. The FF Plus is of the opinion that the MEC must be dismissed at once and that the procurement of the motorbikes must be thoroughly investigated for any irregularities – which will come as no surprise.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Theo Coetzee on FF Plus
South Africa Today – South Africa News
