Key Highlights in the Weekly Diary of a Government Spokesperson Tuesday: 22nd July: Premier participated in the Portfolio Committee Budget Presentation at the Legislature and had a n opportunity for an Oral Reply to Parliamentary questions, the tit for tat with the DAs Trollip continued where Trollip refused to apologise for calling the Premier all sorts of unsavoury names Wednesday, (23rd July)we started early at the Regent Hotel, Premier Phumulo Masualle met with Public entities within the EC, which meant one left King Williams Town at 6 am. From 7 am, til 10 am. We received inputs from 5 of the 10 entities, the EC Development Corporation ( development financier), the EC Parks and Tourism Agency, Coega IDZ and EL IDZ as well as the EC Rural Development Agency. The meeting, the first of its kind since Premier Masualle took office was aimed at ensuring alignment, convergence and focusing on their plans during this financial year. Some of the entities have severe challenges whilst others are on an upward slide. In attendance, were Heads of Government Depts that deal with the entities, MECs for Finance,Sakhumzi Somyo as well as MEC for Land and Agrarian Reform, Mntungwa Nkomo Mlibo Qoboshiyana. Later on, we travelled to Lukanji Municipality in Queenstown at the invitation of the Chris Hani Business Development Forum which took place at the City Hall. Although billed as a Business Forum Dinner, the evening session became an Imbizo. Local business people raised their concerns about ensuring that Government( Local and Provincial)) creates an enabling environment for their businesses Grow and Thrive.Premier Masualle also shared with them what Government has been doing since it came into office as well as plans of the Ministry of the Small Business Development. One left the Gala when Dinner was srved just after 10 pm that evening on my way to my Guesthouse on Frost Street in Queenstown. Finally slept at midnight, helped by an electric blanket, yet the room never became warm.The mystery was unveiled the following morning, cos i had checked in late at night, i forgot to check if the windows were closed, waking up to a freezing room and damp dripping nose like a puppy. No time for breakfast, as i had to drive to Freemantle Boys High in Lady Frere for the Rural Careers Expo which i posted about and was a great success. It is always good to be in the company of young people. The morning took a nasty turn and my D&G jacket was all covered in dust( perks of working in a rural area) after the Premier spoke, we toured the exhibition halls and saw how learners and SETAS with FETs and WSU were hard at work. Back to Bhisho, for a 4pm meeting with the Premier and the Chief of Staff to take stock and plan for the week ahead. Friday, 25 July 2014 07.00: Drop kids at school 07.30 am: Diary meeting with Chief of Staff, Protocol, Cabinet Support services, GM, Provincial Comms and other stakeholders 09.00 Highlight was the meeting with our Chief of Joint Operations within the SANDF, Lt Gen. Derrick Mgwebi, the first South African to be a Commander of a UN Mission( Burundi)....reason why i will always like men in uniform and why the General is such a mentor in my Life. You will know that w share borders with Lesotho and part of the SANDF mandate is to ensure that our borders are secure. then...attending to a flurry of media enquiries, whilst trying to do some writing work for this weekend speaking engagements.. ** Moving into a new place, meet estate agent, sign lease agreement, kids unhappy that i did not show them the place, its a third smaller than all the places i have stayed in, but accomodation in King is expensive, R12000 a month for proper homes Left office 10.30pm after the write ups Sat, 26 July 2014: Wake up at 6.40 am, check news, emails and ff up on todays tasks from my bed 6.45 - 7.00: Get the status update on the Casa FAMILY funeral arrangements from Team on the ground...its all Systems Go Arrange meetings for tonight ands ensure that its all Systems Go for the Businesswomen Regional Gala Dinner awards at the Venue, in Hemingways tonight... 5pm: Meeting young people from Mdantsane on their community projects 6.30pm Gala dinner starts Sunday: 27: Premier attends a Youth Conference in Mdantsane.... He will speak to the Youth and congregation and then Monday... 28th JULY, I need to move to a new townhouse with the kids, 16 suitcases to pack and R18 000 poorer spent on Guesthouses since i came to King( from my own pocket) and the dance starts again for the new week.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Jul 2014 07:09:41 +0000
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