By Bahle Gama
The Ministry of Health has been described as reckless by Members of Parliament.
This was said about the apology issued by the PS regarding the unavailability of responses to the reports by the PAC and the Auditor General.
Matsanjeni MP Sabelo Ndlangamandla said the PS’ submission shows that the Ministry is reckless and does not pay attention to anything.
He said the PS’ submission that the committee discuss a report from 2023 and put aside that from 2022 is one indication of such.
“Even the report we are urged to discuss has a wrong address and was signed without proofreading the information submitted to the PAC creating doubt over authenticity.
This shows that the Ministry takes things lightly. They must go back and bring us the responses we need within three days, right now they are not ready,” said Ndlangamandla.
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Another was Dvokodvweni MP Sifiso Shabalala who said the submission was unacceptable because the Ministry knew the PAC siting would come and were notified in time to prepare.
Instead, the PS and his team opted to come empty-handed, yet it is one of the most crucial ministries in the country.
“It is even on the top of the list to be first addressed because of the state it is in. it doesn’t make sense that we put aside one report and tend to another.
Are we being cognisant of the emaSwati that want answers and expect us to bring everything to light? People are looking at what the ministry is bringing to the table, and they must get the answer to that,” Shabalala said.
Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo questioned whether the ministry is exercising teamwork in providing the needed responses, or there is a sabotage.
He stated that having worked with Mabuza in recent years, he knew him to be efficient and, therefore was surprised at the excuses and apologies he was issuing the committee, which he described as embarrassing and unacceptable.
Meanwhile, Ngwemphisi MP Bhekibandla Vilakati told the PS that the Ministry must respect the House of Assembly, stating that the submission on its failure to put the responses together makes no sense.
“He is alleging to be knocking on different doors without receiving the assistance and responses required.
Based on what he has said, does this mean issuing an apology or excuses to the PAC was the only option on the table?
How are we going to work like this if the only thing we are getting is excuses,” questioned Vilakati.
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He pleaded that they be given enough time to respond diligently and fully to the recommendations from the respective reports, adding that a change in administration does not mean that not a single document is available to provide the needed answers.
The MP said it was impossible that those who left the ministry did so with the needed information to be provided in the responses needed.
“We have come here and wasted time, only to postpone a sitting meant to discuss in depth the pending issues within the ministry,” said the MP.
The ministry was given seven working days to produce detailed responses to the respective reports.
