Sogoni broom denies Cosatu/SACP a clean sweep

Eastern Cape Premier Mbulelo Sogoni announced his cabinet on Friday afternoon leaving Alliance partners Cosatu and the South African Communist Party decidedly unhappy with the final outcome.

Cosatu and the SACP wanted a clean sweep with almost all the existing members of the provincial cabinet axed but in the end had to be satisfied with what was a compromise with some of the old guard being retained. Thobile Mhlahlo, who had been one of those targeted for what is euphemistically described as “re-deployment” survived and while he lost Roads and Transport he did get the major portfolio of Housing to go with Safety and Liaison.

Deputy-Speaker Gloria Barry gets Roads and Transport.

Housing has been separated from Local Government that is retained by Thoko Xasa who was also a target for re-deployment.

Phumulo Masualle becomes the most powerful MEC in the cabinet taking control of both Finance from Billy Nel, and Economic Development and Environmental Affairs that was held by Sogoni.

Health will now fall under Pemmy Majodina and Education goes to Mahlubandile Qwase replacing Nomsa Jajula and Johnny Makgato respectively.

Thank goodness it's Thursday in Bhisho

It’s any early start on the final lap of the four-day Bhisho session. Kick-off is at 10am although there was wholesale confusion about the programme.

One MEC asked me yesterday how I knew the Friday session has been cancelled and he does not know. I couldn’t be honest there were people listening. For as long as I can remember Bhisho sessions are set down for the full five days and somewhere along the line Friday is cancelled and we start early Thursday.

It’s a regular charade.

Today we start with a debate on Public Works followed by Roads and Transport, Safety and Liaison, Social Development, Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the Legislature and finally the passing of the provincial budget.

It’s set to last nine hours – so with a break for lunch that should take us to between 8 and 9 tonight. Bet we’re out of there by 6pm.

MEC slated for "cut-and-paste" job

Both Eastern Cape Local Government and Traditional Affairs MEC Thoko Xasa and the department’s superintendent-general Sindisile Maclean signed the Consolidated Municipal Performance Report for 2005/06, the Bhisho Legislature was told today.

The report, tabled today, has been described by the committee on Local Government as an “embarrassing cut and paste job”.

Replying to questions, Xasa said her department was looking at what steps it could take to rectify the situation and was investigating through a service provider how “to come up with a proper report” adding that it was hoped this could be provided within 30 days as demanded by the committee and it would be “better”.

She acknowledged that what “an official” had done was a “cut and paste job” and was an “embarrassment” to the department.