MEDIA STATEMENT OF THE INTER-MINISTERIAL TASK TEAM
(IMTT) ON THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE
16 MAY 2018
Ministers
Deputy Ministers
Directors-General
and Heads of other institutions present
Members of the
media
Fellow South
Africans
Good afternoon
to you all,
Thank you very
much for joining us for this briefing on progress in the implementation of the
Cabinet decision to establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee Task Team (IMTT)
on the North West Province.
INTRODUCTION
At its meeting
of Wednesday, April 25 2018, Cabinet deliberated on the unstable situation that
has unfolded in the North West province, and which has affected a number of
services, particularly health services.
Following the
Cabinet meeting, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed an Inter-Ministerial Task
Team (IMTT) to give urgent attention to matters of governance and risks facing
the North West province. The Ministers in the Task Team are; the Ministers of
Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (Convener); Health; Finance; Cooperative
Governance and Traditional Affairs, as well as the Justice, Crime Prevention
and Security Cluster of Ministers.
INTERMINISTERIAL TASK TEAM
The President
has directed the Inter-Ministerial Task Team to:
1. Conduct an urgent assessment of the state of
governance in the North-West Province;
2. Advise Cabinet on potential risks facing the province;
3. Provide Cabinet with a comprehensive report on the
state of governance in the province. The report should advise on steps to be
taken in respect of the Task Team’s findings, and
4. Remain seized with the North-West matter until all
critical issues are resolved.
A Technical Task
Team (TTT) of the IMTT, chaired by the DG DPME, comprising the
Directors-General (DGs) of the respective IMTT Departments met with the
Provincial Heads of Department (HoDs) and the Director-General of the North
West Province in preparation for IMTT engagements with the Provincial
Executive.
·
Members of the IMTT visited the North West Province on 04th, 07th and
8th of May 2018 as part of the urgent assessment of the state of
governance.
·
On the 4th and 7th May, The IMTT met with Members of the Executive
Council (MECs), led by the Premier, Mr. SOR Mahumapelo.
·
On 07th and 08th May 2018, the IMTT met with a diverse group of
concerned stakeholders in the North West Province.
·
On the 04th of May 2018, the IMTT visited Mafikeng Provincial Hospital
to assess the state of health service delivery, particularly in the context of
the strike by members of NEHAWU and the stabilization and support provided by
the South African Military Health Services (SAHMS).
The work of the
IMTT and its Technical Task Team entailed a diagnostic assessment of the
current situation in the North West Province, a preliminary analysis of root
causes, an outline of initial remedial interventions and recommendations
required to restore normality to the Province. The report also identifies
numerous areas where further work is required, prior to submission of a final
report on the assessment of the state of governance in the North West Province.
PRELIMINARY REPORT
The
Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) on North West presented a report on its
preliminary work to Cabinet on 09 May 2018. The report provided an
account of the preliminary work that has been done in the last two weeks.
The report reflected
a diagnostic assessment of the situation in the North West Province, covering
root causes and remedial interventions required to restore normality to the
Province.
Cabinet was
satisfied with the progress made by the IMTT in its efforts to stabilise the
Province.
INVOKING OF SECTION 100 (1) OF THE CONSTITION
Cabinet took a
decision to invoke Section 100 (1) of the South African Constitution, which
authorizes national and provincial executives to intervene in provincial administration
and local government respectively within certain constitutional constraints.
The Constitution states that, when a province cannot or does not fulfil an
executive obligation in terms of the Constitution or legislation, the national
executive may intervene by taking any appropriate steps to ensure fulfilment of
that obligation.
Based on the
preliminary findings of the IMTT, President Cyril Ramaphosa has written to the
Chairperson of the National council of Provinces notifying her of Cabinet’s
decision to invoke section 100 (1) of the Constitution to address the problems
in the North West.
The Ministers
who have equivalent departments in the province will use this week to assess
the findings in relation to specific North West Provincial departments to
determine whether to invoke Section 100(1) (a) or Section 100(1) (b). Cabinet
will receive the report from the IMTT reflecting recommendations from National
departments on the application of the relevant section. The President will then
write to inform the NCOP of the full nature of the intervention to meet the
constitutional obligations.
The fact-finding
remains work in progress, The IMTT is still going through and verifying the
information that it received in its consultations with stakeholders. This has
to be a meticulous process that ensures that any claims that are made are
supported by evidence.
INVESTIGATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
Over and above
the obvious responsibility of restoring peace to the North West Province, the
JCPS Cluster has to conduct further investigations where maladministration
and/or corruption are suspected. In areas were glaring contraventions of
the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) are found, the IMTT is referring the
matters to the law enforcement agencies for consideration of criminal
prosecutions.
THE ISSUES ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE
The IMTT would
like to assure the people of South Africa that it is putting in place the necessary
interventions intended to resolve issues and restore normality in the North
West Province as mandated by Cabinet.
National
government is putting together a capable team of specialist officials who will
work closely with the North West Executive to ensure better governance systems
and improved services for the people of the province.
Reports on
progress will be made to Cabinet on a fortnightly basis in line with the IMTT
mandate.
CONCLUSION
It is
regrettable that the people of the North West Province allowed the criminal
element to embed itself in their grievance processes through acts of looting
and destruction of property. We reiterate our call for our people to be
vigilant and reject this opportunism, especially when it affects essential
services like public health facilities and shutdown entire communities to
register their concerns.
As we conclude,
The IMTT would like to express its appreciation to all the officials supporting
the ongoing work in the North West Province, especially the executive and
senior government leaders of the province for their cooperation.
The IMTT would
like to thank the provincial executive led by Premier Supra Mahumapelo as well
as senior official in the North West Province for their cooperation in ensuring
a smooth fact-finding process. They were always ready to meet with us and
answer our questions. This assisted us to meet the Cabinet deadline for
submission of the preliminary report.
We would also
like to thank the North West community for allowing calm to restore to the
province as this makes the work of the IMTT easier. We also thank the officers
our security agencies on the ground who continue to provide security to the
public and property.
We also extend a
special word of thanks to the members of the South African Military Health
Services for insuring that our people continue to receive healthcare while the
labour impasse within the Provincial Department of Health is being
addressed.
Lastly, we thank
you members of the media for your interest in keeping South Africans informed
about the work that we are doing to assist this province. We will continue to
give you updates as the process moves forward.
Enquiries: Phumla Williams on +27835010139
Issued by
Government Communication and Information System
16 May 2018
