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The DA notes that President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally taken the smallest of stands against Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu by snubbing her efforts to continue the deployment of one of her closest cadres, Linton Mchunu, as acting director-general (DG) of the Department of Social Development. Instead, it took a phone call from the President to force Minister Zulu’s hand and appoint Peter Netshipale as acting DG until 4 July 2024 instead.

According to City Press, it was due to the efforts of Deputy Social Development Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu, other senior managers and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), who highlighted procedural flaws and violations of public service regulations in reappointing Mchunu and three other individuals in senior positions within the Department, that finally let rationality prevail.

The DA calls on the President to truly evaluate Minister Zulu’s running of her Department and finally pull the trigger and fire her. Under Minister Zulu and Mchunu’s leadership, the Department of Social Development consistently fails to support the people they’re meant to serve – SASSA grant beneficiaries, social workers, victims of gender-based violence (GBV).

Minister Zulu has also failed to step in in the developing NGO crisis in Gauteng where hundreds of support centres for poor and vulnerable people, including children, have been stripped of their funding by Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi. It is time Minister Zulu’s head rolls for the misery she willfully causes millions of vulnerable South Africans.

Issued by Bridget Masango MP - DA Shadow Minister of Social Development