Give us a chance - premier
2009-06-23 22:27
Johannesburg - North West Premier Maureen Modiselle on Tuesday said that it was too early to judge her government, the SABC reported.
"I think it is a bit premature for me to say that I am happy, everything is hunky dory, and so forth. Because it is too early for me to say that," said Modiselle.
Modiselle was responding at an afternoon press conference to media reports that she had received a critical letter from Co-operative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka.
"We have been in this term of office for a month and I would just plead with the media - just give us a chance," said Modiselle.
"Normally, when a new government comes in at least you give them what is called 100 days."
According to a report in The Times, Shiceka's letter urged for steps to be taken to rescue the province from total collapse.
The paper reported that in the letter to Modiselle, Shiceka noted that "your province does not or seems to be unable to fulfil an executive obligation as required by the Constitution".
The disarray in the province followed months of in-fighting between rival ANC factions with the split paralysing services, particularly at municipal level, the report noted.
It added that according to Shiceka's letter, all municipalities in the province had dysfunctional ANC caucuses, there were divisions within councils, there was poor or non-existent service delivery, a total disregard of policies and laws governing local government as well as high levels of corruption and fraud.
Govt ‘not on bring of collapse’
Following the press conference, Modiselle released a statement dismissing reports of the Shiceka's alleged criticisms.
"We wish to state without any equivocation that at no stage during our numerous interactions with Minister Shiceka did the matter of our government being 'on the brink of collapse' arise. We therefore wish to dismiss such rumours as speculative and unhelpful," she said in the statement.
Modiselle said the media reports were "speculations" of the letter given to her by Shiceka.
She explained that the letter from the minister detailed interventions on problems certain municipalities in her province faced.
Modiselle said those challenges highlighted by Shiceka were being addressed. She appealed for "calm and patience to allow government authorities time and space".
She assured citizens of the province that her government "remained firm and able to discharge its constitutional responsibilities".
The SABC reported on Monday morning that the North West ANC's provincial executive committee was disbanded amidst accusations that it was fraudulently elected at a conference in Sun City last year.
The ANC denied this.
ANC Youth League steps in
"The NEC of the ANC made no decision regarding the provincial executive committee of the North West," spokesperson Jessie Duarte said in a statement at the time. She said the ANC national executive committee visited various regions in the North West recently.
This was to discuss the state of the organisation with members and review the results of the 2009 elections.
The ANC Youth League on Tuesday held a brief meeting at Luthuli House "to clarify and correct an earlier position attributed to the ANCYL on the North West", Duarte said in a statement.
The league had reportedly welcomed the decision to disband the province's executive committee.
"Contrary to an earlier position attributed to the ANCYL, Youth League President Julius Malema made it clear at the meeting that the ANCYL did not give a mandate to anyone to advocate for the disbandment of the North West provincial executive committee as earlier reported," she said.
- SAPA