I've quit, says Essop
25 July 2008, 14:35
By Anisiwe Makinana, John Yeld, Murray Williams and Lindsay Dentlinger
Two provincial MECs who are close allies of axed Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool were set to table their resignations from the provincial Parliament on Friday.
Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane and Environment, Planning and Economic Development MEC Tasneem Essop were expected to announce their resignations from the cabinet shortly after the new premier, Lynne Brown, was due to be sworn in on Friday morning.
Asked this morning, Essop confirmed to the Cape Argus that she had resigned.
The resignations come only two days after Rasool confirmed that he would resign from the premiership.
Speculation has been rife that Ramatlakane, Essop and two other MECs - Education MEC Cameron Dugmore and Local Government and Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi, who were close allies of Rasool - were expected to resign or be purged from the cabinet by the new leadership.
Sources confirmed to the Cape Argus that Ramatlakane and Essop were drawing up resignation letters.
It was also speculated today that if Ramatlakane decided not to resign at the last minute, it was simply a matter of time.
Various other media also reported on Friday that Ramatlakane and Essop had decided to resign.
Ramatlakane's phone was on voicemail this morning, and his spokesperson, Makhaya Mani, told the Cape Argus: "I know nothing about (his resignation)."
He said Ramatlakane was in a special cabinet meeting called by Rasool on Friday morning.
Essop's spokesperson, Nils Flaatten, did not respond to messages left on his cellphone.
Essop has been closely aligned to Rasool and there has been speculation for months that she would lose her cabinet post if he left.
Rasool briefly allowed the media into what was his last cabinet meeting this morning, saying he understood there was an interest to see the cabinet members meet for the last time under his leadership.
A large framed collage of photographs depicting Rasool at work during his time as premier was carried along the corridor to the meeting.
Flanked by Ramatlakane and Brown, Rasool said he had called together the province's political and administrative management.
A visibly upset Essop, speaking to the Cape Argus soon after Rasool publicly announced his resignation on Wednesday, said she was "very sad". "I believe the premier has provided important visionary leadership for the province and we will be losing an important leader in government."
Essop herself has been praised as being a hard-working MEC and for taking the Western Cape to the forefront of environmental policy-making, both nationally and even internationally in terms of regional government.
Ramatlakane has been a controversial MEC and there have been many calls for his head from elements within the ANC and opposition parties for some time.
The call for Ramatlakane's sacking was understood to have come from deputy provincial secretary Max Ozinsky and been supported by an unnamed youth leader.
Ozinsky had apparently warned that if Rasool failed to fire Ramatlakane, Luthuli House would be asked to do so.
This week a report released by the Auditor-General involving Ramatlakane's department was tabled into the legislature.
The AG report investigated various issues, including the controversial security upgrades to Ramatlakane's private residence, which had led to calls in the legislature for an investigation and also sparked calls within the provincial ANC for him to be fired.
The report by the AG found the security upgrades had included private work of R77 125.
Ramatlakane was ordered to repay a total amount of R157 837. The report concluded by saying that Ramatlakane had repaid the full amount by April this year.
The report also slammed various lack of controls within the Department of Community Safety as it related to lease commitments, staff leave entitlements and asset management.
Commenting on the AG report and the speculation of the resignation, DA MPL Robin Carlisle said this morning: "In resigning from his office, Minister Ramatlakane has taken the only honourable option available to him."
Brown's ascension to the position of premier has left her cabinet post as Finance and Tourism MEC vacant, and with Essop's departure and the possible resignation of Ramatlakane, that would mean three vacancies within the provincial cabinet.
Brown said on Thursday she would consult the ANC's Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) as part of her decision on the cabinet.
This would suggest that any vacancies would be filled by MPLs loyal to the PEC leadership and thus to party secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha.
Two provincial MECs who are close allies of axed Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool were set to table their resignations from the provincial Parliament on Friday.
Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane and Environment, Planning and Economic Development MEC Tasneem Essop were expected to announce their resignations from the cabinet shortly after the new premier, Lynne Brown, was due to be sworn in on Friday morning.
Asked this morning, Essop confirmed to the Cape Argus that she had resigned.
The resignations come only two days after Rasool confirmed that he would resign from the premiership.
Speculation has been rife that Ramatlakane, Essop and two other MECs - Education MEC Cameron Dugmore and Local Government and Housing MEC Richard Dyantyi, who were close allies of Rasool - were expected to resign or be purged from the cabinet by the new leadership.
Sources confirmed to the Cape Argus that Ramatlakane and Essop were drawing up resignation letters.
It was also speculated today that if Ramatlakane decided not to resign at the last minute, it was simply a matter of time.
Various other media also reported on Friday that Ramatlakane and Essop had decided to resign.
Ramatlakane's phone was on voicemail this morning, and his spokesperson, Makhaya Mani, told the Cape Argus: "I know nothing about (his resignation)."
He said Ramatlakane was in a special cabinet meeting called by Rasool on Friday morning.
Essop's spokesperson, Nils Flaatten, did not respond to messages left on his cellphone.
Essop has been closely aligned to Rasool and there has been speculation for months that she would lose her cabinet post if he left.
Rasool briefly allowed the media into what was his last cabinet meeting this morning, saying he understood there was an interest to see the cabinet members meet for the last time under his leadership.
A large framed collage of photographs depicting Rasool at work during his time as premier was carried along the corridor to the meeting.
Flanked by Ramatlakane and Brown, Rasool said he had called together the province's political and administrative management.
A visibly upset Essop, speaking to the Cape Argus soon after Rasool publicly announced his resignation on Wednesday, said she was "very sad". "I believe the premier has provided important visionary leadership for the province and we will be losing an important leader in government."
Essop herself has been praised as being a hard-working MEC and for taking the Western Cape to the forefront of environmental policy-making, both nationally and even internationally in terms of regional government.
Ramatlakane has been a controversial MEC and there have been many calls for his head from elements within the ANC and opposition parties for some time.
The call for Ramatlakane's sacking was understood to have come from deputy provincial secretary Max Ozinsky and been supported by an unnamed youth leader.
Ozinsky had apparently warned that if Rasool failed to fire Ramatlakane, Luthuli House would be asked to do so.
This week a report released by the Auditor-General involving Ramatlakane's department was tabled into the legislature.
The AG report investigated various issues, including the controversial security upgrades to Ramatlakane's private residence, which had led to calls in the legislature for an investigation and also sparked calls within the provincial ANC for him to be fired.
The report by the AG found the security upgrades had included private work of R77 125.
Ramatlakane was ordered to repay a total amount of R157 837. The report concluded by saying that Ramatlakane had repaid the full amount by April this year.
The report also slammed various lack of controls within the Department of Community Safety as it related to lease commitments, staff leave entitlements and asset management.
Commenting on the AG report and the speculation of the resignation, DA MPL Robin Carlisle said this morning: "In resigning from his office, Minister Ramatlakane has taken the only honourable option available to him."
Brown's ascension to the position of premier has left her cabinet post as Finance and Tourism MEC vacant, and with Essop's departure and the possible resignation of Ramatlakane, that would mean three vacancies within the provincial cabinet.
Brown said on Thursday she would consult the ANC's Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) as part of her decision on the cabinet.
This would suggest that any vacancies would be filled by MPLs loyal to the PEC leadership and thus to party secretary Mcebisi Skwatsha.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Cape Argus on July 25, 2008
Johannesburg
