Refilwe Mtshweni defends “incompetent” Gillion Mashego

She said the ANC doesn’t engage in ” impulsive behaviour” like opposition politicians who fire their own based on emotions.

Premier Refilwe Mtshweni has defended one of the much-bashed MECs in her cabinet, saying all that opposition parties are raising are “baseless allegations”.

She was answering oral questions at the Mpumalanga legislature Thursday this week.

The EFF’s Collen Sedibe had asked the Premier why did she reshuffle the “incompetent” MEC Gillion Mashego from health to public works on 3 July 2018.

“Is the department that he is ‘recycled’ into not important in your eyes and amongst the other departments?” Sedibe asked.

Mtshweni answered that their deployees are deployed based on “their expertise and collection of skills”.

“The Honourable MEC Gillion Mashego is a capable and competent politician who has previously proved himself in the various positions that he has been deployed and I am confident that he will continue to do a sterling job in the position that he is in,” said Mtshweni.

She said Mashego has a vast experience in governance and administration as well as knowledge.

“For your information, he was in the Public Works administration at provincial and at district level before full participation in politics.

“Therefore this territory from an implementing perspective is not new to him. That said however, as an MEC, his role requires him to oversee the implementation of policy, provide strategic direction and guidance to his department and hold the head of department accountable on implementation,” Mtshweni said.

Mashego weathered several storms while he was health MEC.

The DA’s Jane Sithole, who is a shadow health MEC in the province, wrote a number of letters to then Premier DD Mabuza asking him to fire Mashego.

ALSO RELATED: Gillion Mashego sued billions in hospital negligence

In September 2016, members of the Democratic Alliance, led by Sithole, marched to the Mpumalanga provincial legislature and handed over a memorandum calling for the immediate resignation of Mashego, accusing him of “bringing basic healthcare to its knees”.

SEE ALSO: Parliament committee brings Gillion Mashego’s department into the spotlight

Mtshweni told Sedibe that opposition parties were “impulsive” in their behaviour and tended to fire their own deployees based on “emotions” and “baseless accusations”.

“Contrary to other political parties’ impulsive behaviour of firing and sacking of their deployees based on emotions, difference of opinions, rumours and baseless allegations, such behaviour is not the culture of the ANC. We relieve people of their responsibilities only where there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing or unlawful activity, or if a member is in a serious breach of their mandate and/or they have committed a serious crime,” she said.

(edited by ZK)

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