Underperforming Departments: Lesufi Shakes Up Gauteng Leadership Ahead Of G20

In a bid to address under-expenditure and underperformance in various departments, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced a major leadership overhaul.

The changes, which took effect on Friday 1 August, aim to tackle the provinces service delivery issues head-on.

During a media briefing that took place in Midrand on Sunday, 3 August, Lesufi made a decision to reshuffle and remove certain officials from their positions following a thorough review of audit outcomes, which revealed significant shortcomings in departmental performance.

The Premier emphasised that the province cannot afford to ignore these issues, given the critical importance of service delivery to the people of Gauteng.

The changes of Heads of Departments HODs are as follows:

• Department of eGovernment: Masabata Mutlaneng Department of Infrastructure Development: Rufus Mmutlana.
• Treasury: Ncumisa Mnyani retained.
• COGTA: Darion Barclay retained.
• Transport: Thulani Mdadane retained, post to be advertised.
• Human Settlements: Puleng Gadebe-Mabaso retained.
• Agriculture and Rural Development: Khululekile Mase retained.
• Department of Economic Development: Motlatjo Moholwa new appointment.

Lesufi also appointed the following Acting HODs:

• Environment: Matthew Sathekge.
• Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation: Mpho Nawa.
• Social Development: Phumla Sekhonyane.
• Education: Albert Chaane.
• Community Safety: Pending Health: Pending.

The changes are part of a broader effort to improve governance and accountability in the province, he said.

I also indicated on the 17th of July that there were departments that underspent seriously the total underspent at that time stood at R1.8 billion it has now gone to R1.3 billion after the authorisation of some of the transactions that we requested to be carried over, said Lesufi.

In addition to the leadership changes, Lesufi also announced a new initiative to conduct weekly physical inspections of infrastructure and service delivery challenges in the province.

This move is in preparation for the G20 Summit , which will take place in November and bring together leaders of the worlds major economies.