Lucas Ledwaba
In the run-up to the general elections Limpopo MEC for education Ishmael Kgetjepe, who was this week axed from the provincial executive, was implicated in an embarrassing scandal.
In a report by City Press it was alleged that Kgetjepe was paid more than R1-million by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Mvula Trust, which had been contracted to build toilets at rural schools.
The paper quoted a confidential report compiled by auditing company Nexia SAB&T, which said Kgetjepe had allegedly requested the money by phone or in person.
A month earlier in February, during his state of the province address premier Chupu Mathabatha sang the praises of the education department’s achievements, particularly the 3.8% increase in the matric results in 2018.
He was particularly pleased with the fact that the province had managed to arrest the decline in the matric results and appeared to be on the upward scale. This was obviously praise for Kgetjepe as political head of the department of education and clearly no sign that he was in fact a man on his way out.
Perhaps the Mvula Trust scandal, even though Kgetjepe has never been found guilty of any wrongdoing in the saga, might have turned Mathabatha’s hand. Also, Kgetjepe was appointed to the ministry in 2015, a good two years after the Mvula Trust won the multimillion-rand tender from the national department of basic education in 2012/13.
The tender was part of the Accelerated Schools Infrastructure Development Initiative (Asidi) to build toilets at schools in Limpopo, Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga. Questions remain as to whether, if indeed Kgetjepe solicited a bribe what influence would he have on the contract given that first, it was handled by national government and secondly, the contractor needed no action from the province to carry out its work.
But equally so, why would a firm of auditors make up something as serious as this against a so highly placed public representative? And if the request had indeed been made, why did it only become publicised in March, just two months before an elections? Was Kgetjepe perhaps a victim of character assassination by political rivals within the party?
Was Mathabatha perhaps pressured into firing him because he was wary of reaction from within the ANC ranks if he reappointed a man who, although was never found guilty, still has to convince the public and perhaps his party that there’s nothing to the allegations against him.
Mathabatha may have been mindful of being seen to be going against the recommendations of the mother body’s integrity commission which has strongly called for members implicated in corruption to step aside and clear their names before assuming public office.
In the wake of the scandal the SA Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) which Kgetjepe was previously a senior member of, grudgingly called on ‘law enforcement agencies to speed up the matter of investigations and to bring whoever is involved in aiding and abetting this act to book.’
It further called on Mathabatha and the ANC which had deployed Kgetjepe ‘to look seriously into the matter, lest it puts a damper on the fight against corruption and the election work of the ruling party in the province.’
This may indicate pressure brewing within the ANC alliance to act against Kgetjepe, who has served in various structures within the party and government since the early 90s.
Added to his woes, the EFF, the province’s official opposition laid charges of corruption, fraud and extortion against Kgetjepe following revelations of the alleged soliciting of a bribe.
No action was taken against Kgetjepe who continued to serve as MEC until this week when Mathabatha wielded the axe on the man who previously served in the portfolios of MEC for health and co-operative governance and traditional affairs.
Mathabatha this week announced Polly Boshielo, the former speaker of the provincial legislature as the new MEC for education.
Announcing his new cabinet this week Mathabatha said he had made an effort to implement the ruling party’s manifesto which amongst others includes advance social transformation
and stepping up the fight against corruption.
Was Kgetjepe’s omission perhaps Mathabatha’s signal that he was indeed stepping up the fight against corruption and that whether a leader is found guilty or not, just a hint they are involved in graft would result in stern action?
Mathabatha retained Seaparo Sekoati, Nandi Ndalane, Thandi Moraka, Phophi Ramathuba and Basekopo Makamu in his cabinet. The newcomers include Boshielo, Thabo Mokone, Dr Onnica Mochadi, Dickson Masemola and Nkakareng Rakgoale.
With six women in his cabinet, Mathabatha has adhered to the ANC’s call ahead of the election that in provinces where the premier is male, the cabinet should comprise at least 60% of women. Maybe this is a sign that Limpopians should start preparing themselves for a woman premier in the not so distant future? –
