Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Deputy President Shipokosa Paul Mashatile this week wrote to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Refilwe Maria Tsipane MP, to request a postponement of the session for oral reply to questions that was scheduled for Thursday due to a recent health scare.
Mashatile collapsed recently while delivering a keynote address at N’wamitwa Day Celebrations in Tzaneen, Limpopo.
The Office of the Deputy President and the NCOP will communicate the alternative arrangements for the postponed session as soon as they are agreed and finalised.
His acting spokesperson Keith Khoza said: “The Deputy President has been advised by his medical team to take a week off his official duties to rest and recuperate following the medical incident over the weekend in Tzaneen, Limpopo. While the Deputy President is no longer in any danger and is in high spirits, he is following the medical team’s advice and has withdrawn from scheduled official duties for the current week.”
Khoza also confirmed that tomorrow NCOP Chairperson Tsipane has kindly acceded to Mashatile's request.
In line with questions from the NCOP, Deputy President Mashatile was due to brief the Council on the 7th Administration’s plans to improve the performance of municipalities and accelerate service delivery challenges in some municipalities.
The Deputy President’s request was occasioned by two considerations:
· The passing of former minister and stalwart Dr Pravin Gordhan, earlier this week. The funeral of the former minister will be in KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, and the Deputy President thought it prudent to allow members and former colleagues of the minister the opportunity to fully pay their respects and to show their support to the Gordhan family at this difficult time.
· In addition, the Deputy President has been advised by his medical team to take a week off his official duties to rest and recuperate following the medical incident over the weekend in Tzaneen, Limpopo. While the Deputy President is no longer in any danger and is in high spirits, he is following the medical team’s advice and has withdrawn from scheduled official duties for the current week.
Khoza said: “The Deputy President, as he has demonstrated since his appointment to office during the 6th Administration, takes parliamentary oversight extremely seriously and has worked tirelessly during his time in office to boost the national executive’s accountability to the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces. As such, he will work closely with the NCOP Chairperson to find a suitable date for the rescheduling of the session as soon as possible.”
“The Deputy President looks forward to having an opportunity to apprise Parliament of the Government of National Unity’s efforts to improve municipal governance and service delivery, accelerate the process of land reform and boost South Africa’s agricultural output and food security, as well as the imminent rollout of plans to fight crime and deal with the emergent scourge of criminal extortion and other forms of economic sabotage.”
ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile told to rest by his medical team.
Commentaires