The recent threat by MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo that MPLs who go on unannounced oversight visits to health care facilities will be “kicked out” of those facilities cannot go unchallenged.
“At the outset the Inkatha Freedom Party makes it very clear that we will not be threatened by Dr Dhlomo, any other MEC or the Premier when we conduct our oversight as members of the KZN Legislature. We will continue to serve the people of KwaZulu-Natal and put their interests before the inflated egos of MECs who do not want shoddy treatment by government to be exposed. There is no point in going on announced oversight visits when officials are given sufficient time to window-dress and put on a show for MPLs whilst on all other days our people are faced with bad attitudes from staff, lazy and incompetent officials and public offices that are ill equipped to cater for their needs. The very basis for oversight visits to government facilities is not to find fault and nit-pick, but to identify shortcomings, report these to the relevant authorities and thereby ensure that government services to our people are improved and efficiency becomes the order of the day”, said IFP Leader in the KZN Legislature, Hon Blessed Gwala MPL.
“As the IFP we want to give the assurance to all MECs that while we conduct unannounced oversight visits, we will not disrupt officials in the performance of their duties nor will we interfere with the functioning of any government institution. Our MPLs will conduct their oversight in a responsible and dignified manner with a view to improving services to our people. We will record our findings, good or bad and will report such in the portfolio committees that we serve in and we will report such in the Legislature,” continued Mr Gwala.
“We do not believe that we must focus only on negative aspects of public administration and service delivery therefore we will give praise where it is due. Holding state-paid officials, including MECs and the Premier to account is the responsibility of all MPLs and they should not shy away from this. As the IFP we will continue to visit all government institutions in KwaZulu-Natal and we will continue to hold officials and the executive to account. We want to advise the likes of Dr Dhlomo not to threaten MPLs in the hope of covering up the mess in their departments, rather they should look into our findings and attempt to improve service delivery to our people”, concluded Hon Gwala.
Issued by: Mr Blessed Gwala MPL, IFP Leader in the KZN Legislature, , 078 290 5842
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Mr Phendulani Biyase, IFP Media Officer, 073 024 5675
