Acting Premier appoints new MEC for Human Settlements

The African National Congress in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed the reconfiguration of the Provincial Executive Council as announced by the Acting Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, Nomagugu Simelane.

Acting Premier Simelane announced the deployment of the following MECs:-

1. New MEC for Human Settlements and Public Works, Sipho KK Nkosi;

2. MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture

Cde Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba.

The ANC in KZN is confident that Cde Sipho “KK” Nkosi will speed up the rollout of socio-economic infrastructure as part of job creation, poverty alleviation, and to ensure improved quality of lives of the people of this province.

“With a strong background in organised labour, having served as the Provincial Secretary of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (KZN), we believe that Cde KK Nkosi will ensure that all categories of staff pull in the same direction in order to strengthen service delivery in both departments.

“His understanding of the Public Finance Management Act will enable him to ensure that taxpayers' money is used to build quality houses and that contractors responsible for shoddy service are blacklisted. People in rural areas and those living in informal settlements will be prioritised, as he understands that the ANC does not want anyone left behind,” the ANC stated.

The party added that it was confident in Nkosi's ability to drive the construction of government infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, clinics and other facilities in line with the ruling party's manifesto of bringing government services closer to the people where they live.

Urgent attention

The ANC has given reassurance that, under Nkosi's watch as the new MEC, houses for people displaced by devastating floods will receive urgent attention. This also includes government infrastructure which was destroyed by ravaging floods, the ANC said.

“As the governing party, the ANC wants proper planning and execution of projects with all relevant stakeholders playing an active role. The silo-mentality will be a thing of the past.

“We want emerging entrepreneurs, women-owned co-operatives, the youth and people with disability to be assisted to enter the mainstream construction industry. This is in line with the government's policy of using infrastructure rollout to stimulate the economy.

“We thank Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba and many other deployees of the ANC, who are too many to mention, and who previously served in this portfolio with distinction,” the ANC stated.

The ruling party has also thanked outgoing Human Settlements and Public Works MEC, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba, who has since moved over to the Sports Arts and Culture Ministry.

“As the ANC, we are determined to use this sector to unite the people of this province and ensure social cohesion. In this regard, Dr Ntuthuko Mahlaba is mandated to embark on a series of consultative engagements with various strategic stakeholders within the creative arts, culture and heritage sectors.

“He will solicit their input on how to bridge the gap between the ANC government and the people on the ground. Importantly we want KZN to continue to host national and international sporting activities as we have done over the years.

“We have stated in the past that this province has produced athletes and artists that are respected the world over because of their amazing talent, not because of the colour of their skin. We want to showcase this talent to the world,” the ANC said.