DURBAN - Minister of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane has been accused of allegedly disregarding the Housing Development Agency’s (HDA) Board which was appointed last month by her predecessor Lindiwe Sisulu.
On August 29, Kubayi-Ngubane advertised the board vacancies despite an existing board appointed by Sisulu, which received approval from the Cabinet appointment committee on August 4.
The Human Settlements former chief of staff Beza Ntshona said he did not know what informed Kubayi-Ngubane’s decision to re-advertise the board vacancies.
“Sisulu did make a presentation to the Cabinet committee which approved the appointment of the new board.
“A rigorous process then followed,” Ntshona said.
Kubayi-Ngubane refuted the claims stating there was no existing board when she took over the department.
“Ask them to give you the Cabinet statement which confirms that decision and if such a decision was taken, why was it not communicated like all other decisions Cabinet takes?
“I’m interested to know why there is specifically an interest on HDA.”
Kubayi-Ngubane said the issue of governance was very important and “we can’t risk not having boards appointed when there is an issue of governance involved”.
“I am not really worried, my reputation and work speaks for itself.”
Asked whether a handover meeting between the two ministers had taken place, Kubayi-Ngubane said it was dropped when Sisulu was asked to attend to an emergency.
Sisulu’s spokesperson Mphumzi Zuzile confirmed to the Daily News that there was an existing board, which was approved by the Cabinet committee.
“The Cabinet meeting of August 4 as the collective concurred with a decision to appoint four members to the HDA board for a period of three years with effect from June 1 to March 31, 2024.
“An advertisement has been placed in the media by the Department of Human Settlements on August 29 calling for nominations for the board of the HDA,” said Zuzile.
Sisulu, who was attending her nephew’s funeral, on Tuesday confirmed that the Cabinet did sit and asked for Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu to be contacted for comment.
Zulu indicated that she could not openly report on decisions of the Cabinet as she was not authorised to speak on the matter.
Daily News