New MEC late for her first day at work

A new member of the Mpumalanga executive council was breathless at the swearing-in ceremony this week.

It was not that Dumisile Nhlengethwa was so excited about her new job, just tired.

The province's MEC for roads was nowhere to be seen as Judge Aubrey Ledwaba got ready to swear in the executive members. Premier David Mabuza said the ceremony ought to go ahead in spite of Nhlengethwa's absence.

"We have one MEC who is not present here," said Mabuza. "She's late on her first day ... we will continue."

Then, just as Ledwaba, the deputy judge president of the North and South Gauteng high courts, began with his duties, Nhlengethwa came running into the venue, sweating heavily and fanning herself with a brochure.

"Are you okay?" asked a concerned Mabuza as the new MEC faced the judge.

A spokesman for the roads department said he did not know what had happened and admitted that he did not have Nhlengethwa's phone number.

At the same ceremony, an Economic Freedom Fighters member of the legislature, Collen Sedibe, eschewed his party's red overalls, hard hats and gumboots. He wore a smart suit - with a red tie.

"I'm an honourable now, that is why I'm wearing this suit," he said, with a chuckle.

It was a sartorial switch from last week, when the legislature members were sworn in. On that occasion, Ledwaba asked Sedibe to take off his hard hat.