Mabaso+resignation+report+in+Saturday+Star



=Mabaso 'did things only for his own glory'=


 * Saturday Star, Johannesburg, January 28, 2006**


 * By Christina Gallagher**

The resignation of the Gauteng Social Development MEC Bob Mabaso has been welcomed by many social services organisations as a step in the right direction.

Mabaso resigned yesterday over allegations of sexual harassment. On Wednesday, the office of Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa received a preliminary report on an internal investigation about the allegations.

When asked whether Mabaso was given the option of remaining in his position or being suspended while an internal investigation was conducted, Annette Griessel, head of communications for the provincial government, said she was not aware of any of these options being posed to Mabaso. "He resigned voluntarily," she said.

Mabaso was known for taking on the plight of street children as well as implementing a 25% cut in provincial social development spending, which severely affected a number of non-profit welfare organisations. But in the last two years, his duties had become overshadowed by the problems his department faced.

As MEC for social development, Mabaso inherited problems from the previous administration, explained Democratic Alliance social development spokesperson Rika Kruger.

"The previous administration never budgeted for development and dipped into social security instead," she said. "There was not enough money and he wasn't able to handle it."

Mabaso's passion for street children included controversial mass collections of street children, who were brought to centres. Beth Thomas, director of Gauteng Alliance for Street Children, said Mabaso's efforts were not all that they seemed.

"He would do anything for his own glory," said Thomas. "He took children off the streets, but never delivered upon his promises."

Thomas said that in January 2004, she had received a R200 000 grant from the department of social welfare, but in October that year she received a notice stating that it was going to be deducted from her account.

"I asked them who should have got the money, but the department never responded," she said.

The department was unavailable for comment.

Moira Simpson, director of Kids Haven in Benoni, said: "Mabaso brought the plight street children to the attention of the welfare department. The entire department focused on taking them off the street."

Simpson added that although the attention was positively received, some in the sector felt Mabaso's ideas for taking children off the street were "extreme".

"He regarded everyone on the street as street children. This included bringing in 40-year-old gangsters that had grown up on the streets," she said.

"That was a huge risk for the girls who were with us, some of whom were just 12 years old.

"We hope that whoever comes in will listen better and understand that mass action is failing and puts people at risk."

Simpson said that apart from this issue, she had a good relationship with the department.

Jackie Loffell, interim coordinator for the Gauteng Welfare Social Service and Development Forum, said that when Mabaso was appointed in April 2004, the department was already in a crisis.

"When the announcement was made about the 25% budget cut, he said the matter was beyond his control. He put the NGOs under threat."

She added, however, that under his leadership, communication with the department over financial issues had improved.

Joan Muller, a provincial representative of the South African Communist Party, said Mabaso would retain his position as the provincial leader of the party.

"It is too premature to decide anything. It still being discussed," she said.

Mabaso's former spokesperson, Sam Muofhe, said that he was unsure what Mabaso would do next.

"Things will run their course. I imagine he will still want to work for the community," he said.


 * From: http://www.thestar.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=131&fArticleId=3086736**

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