Sport Industry Group

Bothman fired as NW sports chief- 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00

Grace Bothman, the North West sports and recreation MEC, has been dismissed from her post under allegations of ‘detrimental and catastrophic’ behaviour.

Premier Maureen Modiselle said Bothman was fired with immediate effect, for defiance and showing disrespect and disdain to the highest office in the province.

Modiselle said she was convinced her decision was taken in the interest of service delivery and good governance in the department.

The Premier also instituted an external audit into allegations of misuse of state funds and the reported alleged irregular awarding of tenders in the department.

The Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in North West said it was disappointed with the manner in which Bothman was fired.

‘Cosatu want to be on record that we were called by the ANC leadership to the office of the premier to a meeting for 45 minutes to be told that MEC of Sports, Arts and Culture, comrade Grace Pampiri Bothman, has been removed from the North West Executive Council as the MEC,’ said provincial secretary Solly Phetoe.

He said they were disappointed with the removal of the MEC on the basis of a faction that the Premier was leading.

‘We are also told that the MEC undermined the Premier's instructions and that she is involved in corrupt activities.’

He said it was clear that Bothman was removed from the executive council after she called on the acting head of the department to investigate alleged corrupt activities during the FIFA World Cup.

The Democratic Alliance said it welcomed the dismissal of Bothman.

‘This dismissal was absolutely necessary and long overdue,’ said party leader Chris Hattingh.

He said Bothman's lack of understanding of government systems and specifically the differences between politicians and staff became very obvious immediately after her deployment off the street straight into the provincial government.

‘The length of time that it took to get rid of her did the North West province a lot of harm during the crucial 2010 World Cup, one of the results was the poor marketing of the Royal Bafokeng venue and the loss of opportunities through her incompetence,’ Hattingh said.