Development body gets derision

LEONARD NEILL
BUSINESS IN the Eastern Cape has given a thumbs down to any form of competence in the activities of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC). A survey conducted by a private company appointed to do so by the provincial government has revealed complete dissatisfaction among the private sector. The survey report includes terms such as “lazy”, “fat cats”, “bullies”, “paralysed” and “ineffective” when referring to the levels of ECDC dealings with business. The resignation of chief executive, Kevin Wakeford, last month saw provincial premier Nosipho Balindela moving control of the ECDC from the Department of Economic Affairs to Finance under MEC Billy Nel. But the premier has now fired Economic Affairs MEC André de Wet and returned ECDC control to that department where Mbulelo Sogoni has been appointed MEC. Says Nel: “I’m delighted my department has been relieved of the responsibility. We have our hands full in finance. Let me say the new Economic Affairs MEC is a particularly bright young man. He will handle matters efficiently.”