Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane has set up a dedicated Project Support Unit comprising high-ranking officials to monitor the implementation of government commitments in areas identified as lagging.
Mabuyane said these areas include investment coordination, support for local government, driving education and health turnaround strategies, designated group coordination, and state machinery transformation.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Mandla Makupula Education Leadership Institute in East London on Tuesday, Mabuyane, who is also provincial ANC chairperson, said one of the seven priorities of the ANC-led government during this term was to build a capable, ethical, and developmental state.
“In the State of the Province Address of 2023, we pronounced the need to implement various interventions, including the establishment of the “crack team”, as part of building capacity of the state.
“This crack team, which we have since named the Project Support Unit, is made up of a high-powered team of leaders with proven capabilities and skills in public administration,” he said.
The team consisted of provincial heads of departments, namely Mzi Mafani (transport), Andile Fani (Cogta), Siphokazi Ndudane (rural development and agrarian reform), Mahlubandile Qwase (education), Dr Rolene Wagner (health), chief director at Cogta, Mboniswa Nodlabi, and others.
“I want a full hands-on-deck approach in these areas of our work for maximum progress and impact. The tasks this team will be seized with require cross-cutting functions of social facilitation, change management, communication, back-office support, systems, and operations,” he said.
He revealed that Solicitor-General Fhedzisani Pandelani told the legislature that the Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that spends a lot of money on legal fees.
“There are a lot of employees that are suspended and are paid fully while they are sitting at home, doing nothing. As the leadership, we have to understand that this is sound advice coming from the institutions of our constitutional democracy.
“It is important that whatever we do, we are also careful and sensitive to such issues.”
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