Vusi Shongwe lambasts executive mayors
Shongwe said he felt the need to address certain issues that affect government structures, including executive mayors who do not adhere to protocol.
ERMELO – “The premier is the head of state in the province and she should be supported.”
This was the scathing attack by the head of government business, Vusi Shongwe, in reaction to the absence of Gert Sibande District Municipality executive mayor, Muzi Chirwa, and many other local municipalities’ mayors at the ‘Gender-based violence dialogue’ hosted by premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane last Saturday.
Shongwe was billed to speak on behalf of males in support of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s national call for all provinces to make gender-based violence everybody’s business.
However, he said he felt the need to address certain issues that affect government structures, including executive mayors who do not adhere to protocol.
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He said, “Do you know why I was given this platform? But what kind of man would I be if I do not correct wrongdoings within our structures? Why should the head of state host an event and the leaders of this district are not present? You cannot only be present when money is involved.”
He added that leaders should take responsibility to be able to account for everything.
“I want to remind all of you that supporting the premier is an obligation. Nobody is doing her a favour when attending her programmes, but it is how government operates.
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I took drastic decisions with certain mayors in certain municipalities who were always absent in my departmental events, hence some executive mayors have been barred from taking part in my department’s programmes because they do not attend most of the time.
I live by the saying, ‘Tell no lies and claim no easy victories’,” he concluded before he addressed the gathering on men’s issues pertaining to the gender-based violence that has engulfed the whole country.
