THE furore surrounding the election of former Gauteng MEC for Health Qedani Mahlangu to the Gauteng ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) must be viewed in context.
There are two issues at play here which people need to understand and separate.
There is party politics and the functioning of government. These two do not necessarily work together.
One has noted the concern by some sections of the community, especially families of Life Esidimeni victims and other political parties, who have been calling for Mahlangu’s removal from the the ANC’s Gauteng PEC.
They believe she must be prosecuted for the deaths of 140 patients, a tragedy that occurred while she was the Provincial MEC for Health.
They also believe that the government is condoning the most heinous acts perpetrated under her watch, and that the government pretended to care, but was letting down those affected families.
While their anger may carrying some weight, it is however ill-advised in the context that Mahlangu was elected by rank and file members of the ANC, not by government.
Mahlangu is a South African citizen, who has every right to freedom of association.
In this case she chose to associate herself with the ANC as an active member.
The ANC has its own constitution which allows people to avail themselves for leadership positions.
Her election to the ANC PEC has nothing to do with her government deployment or appointment.
For now she has not been appointed as the Provincial MEC, unless Gauteng Premier David Makhura decides otherwise.
This is the point people are missing in the debate.
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