ANC in the Free State imploding over blue lights jobs

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – With the president and ministers likely to be sworn in following the coalition talks, eyes will move to provinces to do the same with premiers and Members of the Executive Council across the country.

The African National Congress (ANC) in Free State is facing the daunting task of maintaining control of the legislature and portfolio committees due to a lack of numbers.

According to insiders, a plan to amalgamate departments and reduce departments from 10 to 6 to give the party more numbers in the legislature is met with strong resistance from those who feel it’s their turn.

Should the plan succeed it means the ANC will have three or four extra members in the legislature, the exact number it had in the 6th administration before being humbled by voters.

According to the latest salary adjustment, this is how the Premier down to a Member of the Legislature:

• Premier: R 2.5 million
• MEC: R2.2 million
• Speaker: R2.2 million
• Deputy Speaker: R1.7 million
• Chief Whip: Majority Party R1.6 million
• Leader of opposition: R1.5 million
• Chairperson of committees: R1.6 million
• Deputy chairperson of the committee: R1.4 million
• Deputy Chief Whip of Majority Party: R 1.4 million
• Deputy Chief Whip of largest Minority Party R1.4 million
• Leader of the minority party R1.4 million
• Parliamentary Councillor to King/Queen R1.2 million
• MPL R1.2 million

Dr Roy Jankielson, leader of the Democratic Alliance in Free State said the ANC is desperate.

“This would be a desperate attempt to hold onto the Legislature and Executive.

The DA will continue to play its opposition role in the Free State whatever they decide.”

The Economic Freedom Fighters, Couch Liphoko said they want to eat for the last time.

“It’s very foolish to do this because it’s all about running away from responsibility, democratic government requires there should be oversight and accountability.

They want to eat and do it without being seen, we encourage all other legislature members to guard against this and we want to warn the Premier-elect, the sane premier who is also under attack from his party because they want to fight him for it.

It’s all about blue lights, not service delivery.”

The MEC positions come with a government housing, fully furnished, security and clothing allowance.

With PSC confirming all reports were sent to the legislature in January, it’s time to dust all the reports and let committees hold everyone accountable.

This is a developing story.

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