Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced sweeping changes to the provincial administration with the appointment of new Heads of Department (HODs) following poor performance, failure to pass lifestyle audits, and damning forensic reports.
Delivering the Office of the Premier’s Budget Vote Speech at the Gauteng Legislature on Thursday, Lesufi told lawmakers that the departments affected include e-Government, Infrastructure Development, Sports, Arts and Culture, Health, Social Development, and Education.
The shake-up follows recommendations from the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council and the finalisation of 49 forensic reports by law enforcement agencies.
“In the last few months, we witnessed displeasing acts of under expenditures to the tune of R1.8 billion, SMS members failing lifestyle audits, underperformance by some departments, payment of services that were out of the ordinary, and damming forensic reports.
“We have now taken a firm decision to reset the administration of the provincial government and make the following changes to the Heads of Departments.”
To ensure the revitalisation of the Johannesburg CBD, the Johannesburg Presidential Turnaround Team has resumed its work, and President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Professor Trevor Fowler as his political advisor on this project.
“We are also pleased that the National Infrastructure Summit held in Cape Town, Gauteng’s investment request was approved at R 84 billion so that we can invest in the revitalisation of Gauteng CBDs. Ekurhuleni municipality was approved for R25 billion for its sewer network,” said Lesufi.
