'Is it acceptable for an MEC to use state resources to campaign for the ANC?'

14 March 2019 10:59 AM

After an audio recording of Gauteng Sports and Recreation MEC Faith Mazibuko demanding staff members to deliver sporting facilities before the elections, was leaked, Eusebius Mckaiser questions whether it is acceptable for the MEC to use state funds for electioneering?

Read: 'Combi Courts or resignation letters!' MEC Mazibuko's leaked audio

Is it acceptable for the MEC to use state resources to campaign for the African National Congress (ANC)?
— Eusebius McKaiser, Presenter

Caller Keke believes it is wrong to use state resources for the ANC, but at the same time, says she understands the MECs frustration.

Public servants are the ones who are supposed to be acting on service delivery. Where we sit today, we are busy berating politicians on the non-delivery of services. But at the end of the day, no one is holding public servants accountable.
— Keke, Caller

The same public servants who were so angry that she was shouting at them, have had this budget for a whole year and have not acted on it.
— Keke, Caller

They should have done their job and they didn't do their job and she is frustrated.
— Keke, Caller

Eusebius disagrees with Keke saying it is the minister's job to put HR processes in place that will ensure public servants do their jobs.

They have contracts, they have KPIs, and if they are useless you manage them, and if they still don't respond to being managed effectively, you put them on notice, then you eventually fire them.
— Eusebius McKaiser, Presenter

What you don't do, three months before an election is shout at them, racialise the matter, bully them and very quickly reveal through a fraudulent slip that your true motive isn't the fact that you want Krugersdorp suddenly to have sporting facilities. Your true motive is the fact that you are electioneering.
— Eusebius McKaiser, Presenter

Lerato also called in saying there is a total disregard for public servants working in politically charged environments.

We always expect that women attain these positions, they will change the positions for other women that work for them. But under women political leadership, the amount of abuse that we have to face on a daily basis, no wonder whoever recorded the MEC recorded her.
— Lerato, Caller

Caller Zintle says what stood out for her is the element of disrespect between the MEC and the people that work for her.

Listen below to the full open line:

Written by: Matshepo Sehloho