MBOMBELA – “Unfortunately the doctors are against my calculation.”
These were the words of acting premier Mr Vusi Shongwe, when yesterday he said premier Mr David Mabuza was not back at work yet.
It has almost been a full eight weeks since Mabuza was officially placed on sick leave for fatigue due to being overworked.
As it has been extended indefinitely, Shongwe tried to reassure Mpumalanga citizens about his health two weeks ago, by saying publicly that he expected him to be back within two weeks.
He told Lowvelder that the doctors were still resting the premier. He saw him as recently as Monday.
“He is fine, he is fit and he walks and he can talk to everybody.”
According to Shongwe, Mabuza has been recuperating at his private home in Barberton and his state house in Mbombela.
“I cannot say what the problem is, I think that is private. He is fine, according to my naked eyes. He must be strong to face all the challenges a premier has.”
Shongwe said three days didn’t pass without them communicating, as he was acting on behalf of Mabuza. He was sworn in on September 9.
Opposition parties had expressed their irritation with this.
The EFF recently tried to have the legislature elect a new premier. The motion was defeated, but another to debate the rules governing the replacement of a province’s first citizen were adopted.
The party’s provincial leader, Mr Collen Sedibe wrote a letter to the Speaker, Ms Thandi Shongwe to have the motion placed on the agenda. The sitting scheduled for yesterday afternoon was postponed.
Sedibe said the “indefinite postponement” was a reaction to his motion. Bushbuckridge Resident’s Association
MPL Mr Cleopas Maunye agreed. “(MPLs) didn’t elect (Shongwe) as premier. He cannot be acting forever.”
