MEC Thandi Moraka lashes out at officials

An uncomfortable silence filled Bolivia Estate conference hall last Wednesday when Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Thandi Moraka pointed a finger at officials of her department who allegedly drag their feet when it comes to implementing programmes with the result that some projects do not see the light of day.
She was responding to questions posed by sport stakeholders during the Woman and Sport Policy roadshow hosted by Sport and Recreation South Africa together with her office. Moraka was seemingly bothered by departmental officials who also used the platform to raise concerns and give input as she stressed that the very same officials who raise issues are the ones who offer excuses whenever she meets with them to address certain obstacles.
Moraka could barely hide her anger when she indicated that officials at the department act like politicians instead of carrying out their duties. Moraka went on to allege that when she requests officials to drive a certain programme, they all sit in their air-conditioned offices and don’t deliver as requested.
“Our administration wings are not patriotic, they are just there to receive salaries. On such gatherings they come and play holy whereas they are the ones who should push programmes. Some of my officials behave like politicians and tend to focus on duties meant for political leadership while neglecting their own,” Moraka claimed.
She further stated that she was becoming unpopular even in the Executive Council because she fights for issues such as equitable shares allocation. Sport, Arts and Culture receives leftovers after the departments of Health and Education have been allocated big chunks of equitable shares, Moraka claimed. She reiterated that her department cannot rely on conditional grants to carry out projects and ensure that there is sufficient sport infrastructure and tools. “We want a fair cut of the equitable shares allocation,” she said.
Some of the issues raised was the fact that Limpopo loses potential athletes and artists to other provinces due to lack of infrastructure to which Moraka concurred with as she indicated that a shortage of proper facilities was one of the major concern.
“We must start taking sport as one of the best tools we can use to achieve social cohesion objectives. We need enough funds to support our athletes, artists and unearth talent at the grass roots level,” Moraka stated and concluded by encouraging all the relevant stakeholders to pull in the same direction to boost the standard of sport, arts and culture in the province.

Story & photo: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za