Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masaulle said the process of taking disciplinary action against those responsible for the downgrading of the Mthatha Airport is underway.
He was speaking to the media ahead of his final State of the Province Address on Friday.
Masualle said that an announcement would be made soon on the progress made in meeting the legislative requirements by the Civil Aviation Authority after the Bhisho Government had to issue an embarrassing apology when the airport’s status was downgraded.
“Government is in the process of instituting consequence management against those responsible,” he said.
In a wide-ranging presentation, Premier Masualle also said that structural deficiencies in the economy need to be addressed so that investments are made in “new pathways” for development.
On crime, he said that through government’s oversight role over the police services “we have intensified awareness campaigns and social crime programmes”.
Turning to Education, Masualle said the Provincial Education Department had implemented the education transformation plan “which has begun to yield positive results”.
Turning to what he called “challenges”, Masualle highlighted the massive medico-legal claims against the Eastern Cape Health Department now estimated at a staggering R23bn.
Other problem issues he highlighted were community protests and the stalling of mega-projects like the R1.6bn Mtentu Bridge building project after the joint venture company withdrew citing security concerns due to ongoing protests.
Masualle, who took office in 2014, will hand over the baton to a new administration after the May election.
“..like athletes in a relay race, today marks the point at which the current (5th administration) true to the dictates of our constitutional order is getting ready to hand over the baton to the next”.
