Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Jacqueline Theologo
The MEC of the Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation, and Tourism (DEDECT), Virginia Tlhapi, must answer to the irregular appointments in the North West Development Corporation (NWDC).
The DA welcomes the investigation into the appointment of the CFO of the NWDC, Mr. Mpofu, a Zimbabwean citizen, who is accused of fraudulently obtaining his working permit in South Africa.
We believe that several other appointments, including the appointment of the CEO of the NWDC, Mr. Mojalefa Nale, did not follow due process.
In 2015, Mr. Nale was placed on special leave when he was investigated for misconduct. After that, he was appointed as Acting HOD, Chief Director of the department’s Integrated Economic Development Services, Acting Chief Operations Officer of NWDC, Shareholder Representative, as well as several other senior management positions in departments and entities in the North West Province.
He was re-appointed CEO of NWDC in January this year, and his legacy of running things into the ground seems to be standing.
The DA has raised numerous questions in the Portfolio Committee on oversight over the Departments of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, Agriculture, and Rural Development in relation to the appointments of the NWDC board and executive management, as well as their subsidiaries. However, both MEC Tlhapi and the former MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi, never responded and never submitted the requested documentation.
The NWDC has been a dismal failure, year after year not meeting their targets but spending the budget with no positive outcomes, as also reported in the annual report by the Auditor General (AG).
The DA also previously suggested that the NWDC should be dissolved, and the roles and responsibilities should go back to DEDECT so that the MEC can account directly as the Executive Authority.
The NWDC has become a job creating agency, where the ANC policy of cadre deployment has destroyed this entity.
The role played by both MECs must be investigated and if found to be part and parcel of the irregular appointments, must be held accountable and ordered pay the cost personally that was incurred during the irregular appointments.
We have written to the SIU requesting them to extend their investigation to include all the senior management appointments at the NWDC, the North West Gambling Board, the Parks and Tourism Board and their subsidiaries.