As the curtain comes down for the Gauteng 6th administration, various departments are winding up their activities to prepare for the incoming leadership. Gauteng MEC of Social Development (DSD) and Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment (GDARDE), Ms Mbali Hlophe sat down with the Mail & Guardian to reflect on her achievements and challenges, and how she navigated them.
Top of mind when she took over was to ensure the two departments, which used to operate separately, work seamlessly to achieve five key priorities, namely, food security, substance abuse, homelessness, skills development and environmental sustainability.
She said what kept her awake at night was the deep-rooted financial and widespread malfeasance in the DSD. A number of senior officials in critical roles are alleged to have been party to maladministration regarding millions meant for the poor. The first thing she did was to institute consequence management culminating into precautionary suspensions against the 14 officials leading to their disciplinary cases. She has referred the matter to the Department of Finance to forensically probe the matter to finality.
She said she is leaving with a sense of accomplishment because since she took over, the DSD has received 82% – the highest performance since 2016 in terms of its targets on the annual performance plan. The MEC has also been successful in changing the perception of the people of Gauteng about agriculture. She reckoned communities can produce their own food, feed themselves and thus restore their dignity.
The MEC ensured agriculture was made more appealing to the youth because she strongly believes the next set of billionaires in Africa will be from agriculture. She also introduced young people to urban agricultural practices such as rooftop and vertical farming. In addition, she exposed them to entrepreneurial opportunities such as waste management, subsistence farming, agro-processing and launched Farm Yard together with Minister Thoko Didiza – an innovative agricultural project developed to rejuvenate the township economy. For the full interview, click here….
lifestyle and tech final.mp4 – Google Drive