MEKGWE'S APPOINTMENT IS BAD NEWS FOR GAUTENG HEALTH

The appointment of Ntombi Mekgwe, former Ekurhuleni Mayor, as new Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC is bad news for this highly stressed department.

She has no qualifications in this field and her record at Ekurhuleni was not inspiring.

A key priority in the Gauteng Health Department is the institution of financial controls as the Auditor-General has been scathing in his reports on this matter.

Ekurhuleni's financial situation deteriorated badly under Mekgwe, so I am concerned that she will not do much better in her new position.

Her appointment is clearly based on internal ANC political considerations rather than competence to do the job.

I suspect that former MEC Qedani Mahlangu was moved because she made too many enemies with her brave cancellation of fishy contracts.

It is a tough department that needs someone equally tough to fix it up.

I hope that I am wrong but I fear that Mekgwe will not be up to the job in this key department on which so many people depend.

Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, November 2 2010

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