Mahlangu 'must come clean'
2003-09-08 21:16
Johannesburg - Mpumalanga premier Ndaweni Mahlangu has been given two days to come clean about the affairs of the provincial health department, MPL Clive Hatch told Sapa on Monday.
Hatch, who leads the Democratic Alliance in the province, said when rumours of the misuse of funds in the Mpumalanga health department first broke in November 2002, he wrote to the Auditor General (AG) demanding an investigation.
He said the AG suggested they await the outcome of an audit by the premier's office and Hatch agreed to this. It would seem independent auditors helped compile the report.
The MPL said he later heard the premier had received a copy of the special audit and on May 20 he asked questions about the matter as he had still not received a copy. Around this time the premier placed the health department under curatorship.
Last week details of the audit were leaked to the press. Among the allegations were accusations that the former health MEC Sibongile Manana and her director general Rena Charles had mismanaged the province's R19m HIV/Aids budget.
Last week the premier reshuffled his cabinet to rectify "instances of mismanagement" and "alleged wrongdoing".
In the process Manana lost her health portfolio but was made MEC for sports, recreation, arts and culture. The move caused much controversy.
Hatch fumed: "Instead of rewarding her she should have be redeployed into the ranks of the unemployed. At the same time (as the reshuffle) she was elected to the national executive committee of the ANC Women's League. What kind of role model is that for South Africa's women?" he asked.
Hatch said he had written to the premier on Monday demanding the audit be made available by close of business on Wednesday.
"If he fails to do this, I will invoke the Promotion of Access to Information Act in order to obtain copies of these reports," said Hatch.
- SAPA