The IFP in KZN Legislature has blasted the Provincial Legislature, accusing it of failing its mandate to hold the executive to account.
“We have asked the following questions of the MEC for Agriculture, Dr Meshack Radebe last year:
- How many tractors were purchased and supplied to individuals in the past five years and their costs?
- The names of people who were the recipients of these tractors and areas in which these tractors are being used?
- What are the costs of servicing and maintenance of the tractors?
- Are there contracts that the recipients have signed with the Department and when the contracts were handed over to them?
- How are these tractors have benefiting communities?
Up to now the Department has not responded to these questions,” said IFP Leader in KZN Legislature, Mr Blessed Gwala.
“There is no doubt that the role of Legislature has been weakened over the past years as the executive seeks to stamp its authority and dominance on the policy and law-making process. The standing rules of the Legislature are very clear in stipulating time frames for replies to questions that require oral or written responses, but these rules are flouted at will by MECs,” said Mr Gwala.
“It is the duty of the MECs to account to the Legislature for their policies, decisions and actions. I will be writing to the Speaker to request that all our questions to the Agriculture MEC Cyril Xaba be put to him at the next written reply session,” continued Mr Gwala.
“Agriculture MEC Cyril Xaba must be held accountable and must know that he cannot prevent South Africans from knowing the truth about wasteful expenditure in his department. We will continue to do everything possible to shed light on this politically-motivated expenditure. The MEC, Cyril Xaba should prevent this unnecessary conflict and provide Legislature with answers,” concluded Gwala.
