The inter-ministerial committee (IMC) appointed by Cabinet to deal with the health crisis in the North West, has lambasted the media for allegedly publishing misleading reports.

IMC spokesperson Phumla Williams said that, contrary to media reports, the provincial executive in the province was co-operating with the technical task team.

“The media reports are not only misleading, but also far from the actual experience of the IMC. The IMC would like to place it on the record that the IMC as well as the Technical Task Team of senior officials have received nothing but co-operation from the provincial executive, led by Premier Supra Mahumapelo.”

Williams’ statement does not indicate which media house she is referring to.  

Ongoing protests calling for Mahumapelo to step down have exacerbated the situation at hospitals and clinics, where National Health Education and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members have been striking for more than two months.

The SA National Defence Force (SANDF) had to be brought in last week to assist. This followed the deployment of the South African Military Health Service (SAMHS) on April 20.

Williams said the IMC intervention was not intended to sow any divisions.

“It is an intervention that is intended to assist the province, as mandated by Cabinet. The IMC is working hard on the ground to ensure that it reports back to Cabinet within the stipulated timelines.”

Williams said the reports were regrettable because they were published “without any verification with the chairperson of the IMC or the IMC spokesperson”.

“We hope the publication concerned will take the necessary corrective actions to ensure that a similar misrepresentation is not allowed to happen again.”

JOHANNESBURG – The South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) on Monday slammed Deputy chairperson of the Democratic Alliance’s (DA’s) federal executive, Natasha Mazzone, for her tweet about how her immigrant father worked hard to “build himself up”, as yet another attempt to defend white privilege.

Earlier Mazzone tweeted: “My father arrived from Naples in Italy, he was dark, and could not speak English or Afrikaans, but he was a great chef. He built himself up from nothing to make a good life for his family. I HONOUR and thank my father.”

READ: Mmusi Maimane stands by Freedom Day comments

Reacting to the comment, Sanco Spokesperson Jabu Mahlangu said: “What Mazzone is not admitting to is that her migrant father and all other colonisers had the backing of racist apartheid laws as well as the evil system of white supremacy that among others guaranteed whites jobs, higher salaries, protection, better education, land, housing including access to exclusive recreational facilities”.

Mahlangu said these white privileges translated to prosperity and success for beneficiaries of decades of apartheid and now their dependants were boasting that the wealth they inherited was a result of hard work.

DA leader Mmusi Maimane, who is married to a white woman, told a rally in Soshanguve on Freedom Day that “white privilege and black poverty” must be confronted.

I stand 100% with my Leader Mmusi Maimane. I too will not pander to racists. Our mission is to create a South Africa for ALL who live here. Divided we are weak, united, we are unstoppable. South Africa first, ALWAYS —- https://t.co/Kosy547BEA

— Natasha Mazzone MP (@Natasha9Mazzone) May 6, 2018

Reports at the weekend suggested that senior members of the DA were unhappy with the comments.

Mazzone took to twitter to respond to the matter and incurred the wrath of SANCO.

Mahlangu said white members of the DA caucus that were challenging Maimane were simply reminding him that he “is the face of the party and not its leader”.

African News Agency