The Inkatha Freedom Party's (IFP) newly elected Gauteng MEC for e-government, Bonginkosi Dlamini, says bringing internet connectivity to poor areas of the province is a top priority.
Dlamini is one of three new provincial assembly members elected from parties other than the African National Congress (ANC) that currently make up the Gauteng unity government.
RISE Mzansi's Vuyiswa Ramokgopa is the new MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, while Patriotic Alliance's (PA) Sheila Mary Peters is the province's new MEC for Environment.
Dlamini says it's crucial that poor communities have access to the internet.
“For poor people, connectivity and data are very expensive, so we need to roll out broadband to poor areas. My passion is that people, especially the poor, should have more connectivity.”
“Our data is very expensive, but at the same time we are not going to allow it to be siloed. Every department is a custodian of ITC,” adds Dlamini.
Meanwhile, RISE Mzansi says it is confident that its member Vuyiswa Ramokgopa will make eradicating hunger in the province a priority.
“This is a significant moment for the 16 million people of Gauteng. We now have new leadership working in the provincial executive to end hunger, ensure access to adequate food and reform our food systems, among other critical issues, as we have committed over the past 18 months working in and with our communities,” spokesperson Mabene Ssibe said.
“RISE Mzansi would like to thank Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and the people of the province for the opportunity to serve as part of the unitary provincial government,” Seebe says.
The video below provides further details about the incident.
