DA to forge ahead with no-confidence motion against Makhura

The party will forge ahead with the motion Makhura being cleared of wrongdoing by the Special Tribunal in connection with the province’s personal protective equipment scandal.   

The opposition party filed the motion last week, calling for the Gauteng provincial legislature’s Speaker Ntombi Mekgwe to convene an urgent sitting to debate the motion. 

DA chief whip in the province Mike Moriarty says the Special Tribunal’s judgment does not take away the need to hold Makhura accountable for alleged misspending. 

“The fact that there are billions of rands misspent on PPE and other Covid-related spending which Mr Makhura needs to account for as the head of the Gauteng provincial government. It is under his watch that we see misspending and even downright corruption. If it is happening on his watch then he must be held accountable.”

He says the rampant corruption in the province cannot continue unabated.   

“We’re of the view that the Gauteng provincial government, irrespective of what the Special Tribunal has ruled is at this point held accountable of R2.2 billion worth of misspending on various aspects of PPE, including R431 million of sanitisation schools which did not require it. 

“There’s no accountability for the wastage of money and in some cases, corruption even if it doesn’t involve Mr Makhura personally. He is responsible for a government that wastes,” Moriarty adds. 

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But the African National Congress (ANC) in Gauteng says it won’t take this lying down.  

ANC chief whip Mzi Khumalo says the motion of confidence against Makhura is a sign of desperation.

“The ANC caucus will not be pandering to the hypocritical whims of the racist DA and their poster boy of corruption who want to co-govern with the popularly elected government through frivolous motions,” says Khumalo. 

“Instead of working hand in glove with the provincial government in saving the lives of our people which are everyday threatened by a ruthless and invincible virus the DA is trying to seek attention and popularity through frivolous motions which it knows very well that it won’t see the light of day.” 

The party maintains its confidence in Makhura’s leadership.  

“We welcome the transparency of Premier David Makhura who brought an application before the Special Tribunal to correct an erroneously written judgment on the alleged involvement of the Premier in the PPE procurement irregularities. This shows that the premier has nothing to hide and is assisting the work of the tribunal.”