The Chairperson for the Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Health and Social Development, Gavin Edwards, states that the portfolio committee has decided to halt proceedings of the Department of Social Development without processing the 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan. He explains that the decision was taken by the portfolio committee after deliberating on a report which was signed off by the current HOD, whose appointment is still in question. According to Edwards, the appointment of Relebohile Mafokane, who is the current HOD for Social Development, is yet to be addressed. This comes after media articles about his alleged lack of qualifications and the interactions the committee had with the department in trying to resolve the matter.

“The committee stated that there is written communication between the Portfolio Committee, the MEC, and the Premier, which last received attention in June 2022. It has become clear that this matter has been outstanding as far back as June 2022. The matter of the legality of the HOD’s appointment has been raised by the committee during previous committee meetings and more recently in media reports. The lack of progress on the matter poses serious possible financial risks to taxpayers’ funds and therefore we will not continue to deal with the HOD until the matter is resolved,” he adds.

Edwards further expressed that the portfolio committee is disappointed by the matter and they have invited the HOD to provide his version of events before the Portfolio Committee. He also stated that if the allegations against the current HOD are true, all those who were involved in the process of appointing the accused and failed to do due diligence, will be dealt with.

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