Cape Town — The ANC have defended North West Premier, Bushy Maape, for his decision to seek medical attention in Thailand, while opposition parties raised their concerns over Maape’s leadership and continuous absence.
Maape has faced criticism from opposition parties who claimed that Maape’s absence has impacted service delivery. He caused further controversy after it was revealed he went to Thailand to receive medical treatment, SABC News reported.
The Premier will be in Thailand until the end of this month after being advised by his doctor to seek medical treatment abroad. Maape resumed his duties two months ago when he took ill following minor orthopaedic surgery in June last year.
Maape left the country on Sunday until January 31 “following advice and referral by his doctor to seek further medical treatment in Thailand. Following his decision to seek help abroad, it created the impression that SA’s medical system was not good enough, SowetanLIVE reported.
However, on Tuesday, ANC provincial spokesperson, Tumelo Maruping, said Maape was allowed to seek any specialist of his choice from his own pocket.
“Premier Bushy Maape went to Thailand at his own cost and it has nothing to do with the public purse and what we need to clarify as well is that Maape has been receiving medical treatment in SA, and particularly in North West and him going to seek attention from a particular specialist out of his cost,” Maruping said.
Maruping also added that Maape would not neglect his service delivery duties while being absent, adding that he will return in 14 days.
“Maape is a premier of the ANC that governs, he is representing the ANC and the policies of the ANC, so there is no way service delivery would be hampered.”
The ANC announced MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Nono Maloyi, as the new acting Premier.
Opposition parties took issue with Maape’s decision, both to seek help abroad and to appoint Maloyi as the acting Premier. The EFF accused Maloyi of being ineffective as MEC and acting Premier, The Citizen reported.
“His failure to protect the dignity of our people is proof enough that Maloyi is not a suitable candidate to be tasked with allocating the scarce resources of the province and restoring good governance,” said the North West EFF.
Meanwhile, the DA condemned Maape for going to Thailand for medical treatment and shunning local hospitals he oversees, The Citizen reported.
“The fact that Premier Maape would rather seek treatment abroad indicates his vote of no confidence in the provincial public health system he presides over,” said caucus leader Freddy Sonakile.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
