Limpopo govt defends appointment of Kgabo Mahoai and Florence Radzilani
The Limpopo provincial government has defended the appointment of Kgabo Mahoai as Treasury MEC.
Mahoai was dismissed as the Director-General at the Department of International Relations and Corporation in 2021.
He was found guilty of gross negligence and wasteful and irregular spending in relation to the expenditure of R118 million on a dilapidated building in New York in the US.
The money had been earmarked to purchase land in the US where the offices of South Africa’s New York Consulate and Permanent Mission to the United Nations were supposedly to be built.
Mahoai is challenging his dismissal at the CCMA and at the Labour Court.
The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) Limpopo leader Lindy Wilson says Mahoai cannot be trusted with Limpopo’s public funds.
“We have some serious concerns with the cabinet that she’s announced, particularly with the MEC of Treasury. He is a person who was asked by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation for 118 million rands worth of irregular expenditure trying to buy land in New York so that is a red flag for us.”
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Limpopo Provincial Spokesperson Ndavhe Ramakuela has hit back at critics saying the High Court has since exonerated Mahoai.
“The province further noted that the process is still continuing where Mr Mohoai is challenging the validity of his dismissal through arbitration and subsequently the Labour Court. The premier is convinced that since Mr Mahoai has not been charged for corruption, or criminally charged on the matter, there is nothing in law that prevents his appointment to the Executive Council,” said Ramakuela.
Limpopo’s new Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba, also appointed former MEC of Transport and Community Safety and Liaison Florence Radzilani as the MEC of Social Development
Radzilani was mayor of Vhembe District Municipality when the council invested R300-million in VBS.
The money was later recovered. She stepped aside and was later cleared, although investigations into the saga continue.
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Wilson also questioned the redeployment of Radzilani.
“Re-elected Florence Radzilani, as MEC for social development, is a red flag for the DA. Radzilani was called out on the VBS heist in an ongoing investigation, but she is called upon to manage a critical portfolio with a large budget,” said Wilson.
Ramathuba also retained the MEC for Education, Maureen Lerule-Ramakhanya, Basikopo Makamu continues in the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs.
Among others, the members of the executive council include Masgego Dieketseng, who now holds the portfolio of the Department of Health, previously held by Ramathuba.
The new executive members are:
- Mavhungu Lerule Ramakhanya (education);
- Mashego Dieketseng Masesi (health);
- Basikop Makamu (cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs. Makamu is also the deputy secretary of the ANC in Limpopo;
- Florence Radzilani (social development). She is deputy chairperson of the ANC in Limpopo;
- Jerry Maseko (sport, arts and culture), who is former regional secretary of the ANC in the Sekhukhune district;
- Kgabo Mahoai (provincial treasury), who was one of senior managers in the Department of International Relations;
- Ernest Rachoene (public works);
- Grace Nakedi Kekana (agriculture). She is also treasurer of the ANC in Limpopo;
- Violet Mathye (transport and community safety); and
- Tshitereke Matibe, former Vhembe mayor, deputy speaker of the provincial legislature.