Eastern Cape health minister Nomsa Jajula is in hot water after failing to appear on a radio show that cost the government almost R13 000 for the slot, the Dispatch Online reported on Tuesday.
She had to provide an explanation to Premier Nosimo Balindlela after she was supposed to appear on the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s uMhlobo Wenene 12 Down programme at 1am on Thursday to discuss the policy speech she had delivered in the legislature the day before.
The week before, provincial social development minister Sam Kwelita, who was due to participate in the show on behalf of finance minister Billy Nell, also missed his appointment and failed to give the radio station an explanation, an employee at the SABC’s programming department said.
According to a Bisho official, last Friday Balindlela demanded a clear explanation from Jajula and her team.
The uMhlobo employee said that Jajula’s spokesperson had called an hour before recording was due to start, saying she could not make it because she was ”too tired”.
”These programmes are prepared well ahead of time, so being told that a participant would not pitch so close to going on air throws us totally off balance,” said the staff member.
He said the money, which already had been paid by Balindlela’s office, was non-refundable because there were expenses incurred during the preparation of shows.
But according to government spokesperson Phaphama Mfenyana, the arrangement was flexible and Jajula could appear on the show in future at no additional cost.
”Although all MECs [provincial ministers] were given the schedule well ahead of time, their attendance depends on their availability,” he said. — Sapa