DMR appointment causes concern
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi Zwane has controversially made a key appointment within the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on the grounds that it is only temporary.
Earlier this month, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Mineral Resources, James Lorimer MP, requested that the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources summon the Minister to explain his appointment of inexperienced Seipati Dhlamini to the key position of Mineral Regulation deputy-director general in charge mining licence awards.
But instead, the committee allowed the Minister to sidestep a verbal explanation and accepted a delayed written one, in which he excused his actions on the grounds that the appointment was only temporary.
Challenged by Lorimer once more on Wednesday, Zwane again took refuge in the alleged temporary nature of the appointment and was again backed by the African National Congress (ANC) majority, who accused the DA of raising the issue because of its bias towards the promotion of black women.
“This transparent use of the race/gender card is becoming an increasingly frequent tactic used by the ANC to excuse shady goings-on in its administration,” Lorimer said in a release to Creamer Media’s Mining Weekly Online.
Also denied was the DA’s request that the Minister be required to provide a written record of the process leading to the permanent appointment.
Instead, ANC members said they trusted the Minister’s word and did not believe the committee should involve itself in the matter any further.
“This issue where accountability is avoided and questioners attacked, goes to the heart of why there has been capture of the South African state,” Lorimer lamented, adding that the DA remained suspicious of the appointment and would as far as possible track the process leading to the permanent appointment.
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