ANCYL calls for MECs' heads

2010-08-23 19:07

Durban - The ANCYL in KwaZulu-Natal has added the name of Agriculture MEC Lydia Johnson to the list of MECs it wanted fired.

"We want her (Johnson) removed because she does not have a clear strategy for agrarian revolution for the province," said ANC Youth League provincial secretary, Bheki Mtolo in a media briefing in Durban on Monday.

The ANCYL resolved during its provincial general congress in Pinetown two weeks ago that there should be a provincial reshuffle.

Delegates resolved that Social Development MEC Mishack Radebe and Human Settlement MEC Maggie Govender should be sacked because they failed to develop specific youth empowerment programmes.

The move was criticised by the ANC which said it still had confidence in the MECs.

Mtolo on Monday said Johnson also needed to be removed because she did not understand the importance of her department.

"KwaZulu-Natal is far behind the Eastern Cape when it comes to agrarian revolution. The government there is helping people to cultivate," he said.

Mtolo said King Goodwill Zwelithini had pledged to make the land available for cultivation and that the department had done nothing.

He said ANC members of the KZN legislature, Belinda Scott and Makhosi Khoza were suitable candidates to replace the MECs.

Johnson’s spokesperson, Ncumisa Mafunda, said she was disappointed with the league’s statements.

"It clearly shows that they have not been following our programmes. Our MEC is a hard worker and she is working closely with the traditional leaders," she said.

Mafunda said the department’s one home one garden project had been very successful.

"We have also been involved in helping people to plant maize and vegetables on a big scale. We have also helped co-operatives. We have also distributed tractors," she said.

- SAPA