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MPs slam ‘quiet’ Ramaphosa

- North West PEC chairperso­n | STAFF REPORTER

“We have not taken legal action at this stage. We will weigh up our options and, if possible, lodge an appeal,” Legoete said.

Mahumapelo appeared optimistic about today’s meeting. “We are expected to give a report on how all parties will work together ahead of the election to ensure overwhelmi­ng victory for the ANC.”

Prior to the meeting at Luthuli House, Mahumapelo, in an interview on eNCA’s Modise Network, said he plans to release a book later this year which details his decision to step down and removal as chairperso­n. He also alleged that the violent protests were politicall­y influenced by certain factions in his party. He said the details would be in the book.

Cosatu North West secretary Job Bliso said his union was looking forward to working with Mahumapelo and his executive.

“We are hoping that the ANC will resolve its internal issues. We have no option but to work with the PEC. It is a decision of the court.”

He added, however, that Cosatu would await a directive from Luthuli House before rallying behind Mahumapelo’s executive.

According to him, the disbandmen­t of the Mahumapelo executive and subsequent appointmen­t of the ANC North West provincial task team was an “internal matter”.

“We as Cosatu serve the workers’ interests and the ANC relations with its alliance partners. If Luthuli House grants us permission to work with the Mahumapelo executive, we will do so,” he said.

The SACP was not available for comment yesterday. SPARKS flew in Parliament in the debate on the State of the Nation Address with opposition parties demanding President Cyril Ramaphosa get more people implicated in the Bosasa saga.

The government has been under fire from opposition MPs in the past two days. The DA, IFP, African Christian Democratic Party and AgangSA yesterday said the government had let the country down.

AgangSA MP Andries Tlouamma said Ramaphosa had kept quiet during former president Jacob Zuma’s years when institutio­ns were run down.

He also said Ramaphosa did not say a word when the Bosasa scandal was unfolding.

The IFP’s Mntomuhle Khawula said nothing had changed since Zuma left office last year.

“Millions of South Africans rejoiced the day former president Zuma exited office. The so-called new dawn promised that things were going to change for the better. Little did we know that the new dawn might not actually be what it was dressed up to be,” said Khawula.

He said the people responsibl­e for the nine lost years had not been kicked out of the government.

The DA’s Geordin Hill-Lewis said the government had done nothing in the past nine years.

He said no one had been locked up for the lost years and the corruption and state capture that followed.

This was despite the explosive evidence at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture and the other commission­s.

Several senior ANC figures have been implicated in corruption allegation­s in the commission­s.

Ramaphosa has said he will wait for the reports to be finalised before action is taken.

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi defended the policies of the government.

Motshekga said preparatio­ns had already begun to transfer early childhood developmen­t from Social Developmen­t to Basic Education. This came after Ramaphosa’s announceme­nt last week.

She also said they were addressing the pit-latrine toilet issue.

Motsoaledi said they were fast-tacking the phasing-in of the National Health Insurance system. The bill will be introduced soon. JOHANNESBU­RG: The DA has called on National Prosecutin­g Authority boss Shamila Batohi to reinstate charges against Gupta associates linked to the Estina dairy farm fraud case following new revelation­s.

Netwerk24 reports the Free State Department of Agricultur­e paid over R330 million to Estina for what was meant to be an upliftment scheme.

Estina’s bank statements have shown that the firm was paid millions of rand which was transferre­d to an Indian-based Bank of Baroda account.

As soon as the money was deposited into Estina’s account for the scheme, it was deposited into other accounts.

 ??  ?? Angie Motshekga
Angie Motshekga
 ??  ?? Shamila Batohi
Shamila Batohi

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