Gauteng residents are being deprived of quality service delivery due to Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s unfortunate decision to appoint MEC Matome Chiloane to oversee both the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation and the Gauteng Department of Education. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng calls for the appointment of a dedicated MEC for the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, who will be able to prioritise the department’s programmes and effectively address the needs of Gauteng residents.
This call follows the Auditor General’s (AG) 2024/2025 findings that MEC Matome Chiloane has performed below expectations. According to the AG’s conclusions, the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation achieved 62% of its planned targets despite spending 91% of its budget.
The AG’s report further highlights poor financial management and non-compliance with Section 38(1)(f) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). It notes that the department conducted transactions exceeding R1 million without engaging in competitive bidding, which also contravenes Treasury Regulations.
Compounding this, the department’s audit opinion regressed from unqualified to qualified, indicating a decline in internal controls and oversight shortcomings. Additionally, the department has not implemented four of the six AG’s recommendations for 2023/24, and even after adjusting its targets, the department was unable to achieve those objectives. MEC Chiloane is clearly out of his depth overseeing two demanding portfolios, and this is highlighted in the results showing regression in the department’s internal control.
Moreover, issues such as vacancies in key management positions and late payments to suppliers demonstrate that this department is in disarray.
These shortcomings indicate that MEC Chiloane has failed the value-for-money test. His failure is exemplified by his inability to build or upgrade libraries, combi courts, and vital community soccer fields in the 2024/2025 financial year.
MEC Chiloane should have ensured that officials implement previous recommendations from the AG, including the filling of vacancies, optimal utilisation of assets, and timely processing of payments, as each of these factors directly affects the department’s ability to deliver services to Gauteng residents.
The DA demands that Premier Lesufi reconsider this decision solely made to consolidate ANC’s power after their crushing in the 2024 elections. A coalition government concerned with service delivery would have maintained the separate MEC position to ensure effective leadership and accountability within the department. The Premier must urgently appoint an MEC who is solely dedicated to this portfolio.
A Gauteng Provincial Government led by the DA would have ensured that this department is assigned a dedicated MEC capable of fulfilling its mandate effectively, rather than being treated as an afterthought.