By Reacting to news published in some media houses, the Free State MEC for the Department of Human Settlement and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Mr Saki Mkoena has refuted the claims of traveling with a ‘special companion’ to Cairo, Egypt for the World Urban Forum.
The WUF is set to place from 4 to 8 November 2024, in Egypt; the Minister for the Department of Human Settlement Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi has invited MEC Mokoena to the Forum, and the invitation was also extended to the sole metro in the Free State, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality (MMM) as a critical role player.
“The department wishes to state that there is no “special companion”, that is part of the team leaving for Cairo,” said Ms Zimasa Mbewu, the Spokesperson for the department.
Mbewu said The Free State delegation (as part the National delegation) is made up of the following members who are critical and relevant for the much-needed work at the summit. The MEC team as finalized is constituted of the following members:
1. Gocta and Human Settlement MEC: Mr Saki Mokoena
2. Chief Director for Human Settlements Development Planning: Ms Carol Tlali
3. Human Settlement Director for Communications: Ms. Zimasa Mbewu
4. Assistant Director: International Relations, in the Office of the Premier.
“Contrary to the rest of the government, the department has not annually budgeted for the international travel of both the officials and the political heads. In response to this weakness the MEC previously interacted with the Head of the Department, Ms. Mosa Masimene to engage the Provincial Treasury to seek intervention in a bid to address the overall financial pressures of the department.
This amongst others dealt with new priorities of the 7th Administration, international travel and communication pressures. This is a normal process that is followed in government on an annual basis. Finally any official traveling is guided by regulations contained in the National Travel Guideline, a document published by the National Treasury, it can be accessed by the media or any private citizens who wish to do so,” said Mbewu.
Mbewu said the department wishes to dismiss the insinuation of those who are determined to create an impression of an irresponsible government through leaking internal official memos.
“This is done deliberately to hold the Free State government at ransom and prevent the much needed change that is critical to achieve service delivery aimed at changing the lived realities of our people. The MEC as part of the government is determined to confront any agenda both internally and externally that seeks to undermined the much needed change in how the administration is managed and led. This is being done with the sole intention of speeding up delivery to the people of the free state,” she concluded.
