The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng was denied access to conduct an oversight inspection at the Gauteng Department of Education’s (GDE) rented offices at 55 Fox Street in the Johannesburg CBD.
This is unacceptable and undermines the role of the Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature ( GPL) to conduct unannounced oversight and hold the executive to account. The DA Gauteng will report this matter to the GPL Speaker, Morakane Mosupyoe to address it with the GDE MEC, Matome Chiloane.
The department is hiding something. The allegations that these offices are used to make photocopies might be true. While there, we witnessed employees going in and out of the building.
Currently, a total of R2 950 407,87 is being paid monthly for this building that does not meet the OHS standards.
See the photo here.
MEC Chiloane should address this issue with the GDE Head of Department, Rufus Mmutulana. We will conduct another unannounced oversight inspection of these offices and, should we be denied access again, will take this further and use all the mechanisms at our disposal.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would promote the oversight role of the GPL members to hold the executive to account and ensure good governance.
Furthermore, will begin the process of refurbishing all abandoned government buildings owned by the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG). The money saved from rentals will be used to improve service delivery in the province.