President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Task Team to give urgent attention to matters of governance and risks facing the North West province.
This development follows the President’s visit to the province a week ago and is a response to appeals by the people of the North West and a range of other concerned stakeholders that government should intervene.
At its meeting of Wednesday, Cabinet deliberated on the unstable situation that has unfolded in North West, which has affected a number of services, particularly health services.
The President has directed the Inter-Ministerial Task Team to:
1. Conduct an urgent assessment of the state of governance in the 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 at the Cabinet meeting of 9 May 2018. 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.
The Inter-Ministerial Task Team comprises the Minister in The Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma (Convenor); Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene; Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Dr Zweli Mkhize; Minister of Public Works Thulas Nxesi; Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Senzeni Zokwana; Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula; Minister of Police Bheki Cele; Minister of State Security Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Advocate Michael Masutha.
Cabinet has approved the invoking of Section 100(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, to address the apparent crisis, particularly in the health sector.
The province has been tense since last week, with communities taking to the streets calling for Premier Supra Mahumapelo to step down.
There were reports on social media of shops being looted in places like Klerksdorp. Ambulances were also prevented from entering Tshepong Hospital.
In a statement on Thursday, the Justice Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster condemned the violence and criminality accompanying protests in different parts of the province.
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