Kimberly – The Northern Cape Provincial government has sworn-in Sylvia Lucas as the province’s second acting premier.
Lucas took over from Griselda Gjiekela who had been acting as premier after the province’s premier, Hazel Jenkins, collapsed a year ago.
Jenkins collapsed while delivering the State of the Province Address last year.
Lucas is currently the MEC for Environment and Nature Conservation.
Provincial Legislature Speaker, Boeboe van Wyk, explained that the legislature had received a letter from the medical team looking after Jenkins explaining that she should be relieved of her duties. She is currently recovering at home and is under medical supervision.
Van Wyk explained that Jenkins is still the province’s premier until a new premier is elected.
He assured people in the province that as the provincial government they will remain focused on serving the people of the province.
In her acceptance speech, Lucas promised the people of the Northern Cape that she will continue to serve them.
“I feel extremely honoured for being elected to serve you. We need to change the gear now and do things differently,” she said.
She assured the youth that their plight is being attended to. “It is a commitment and not a promise," she said.
She also mentioned education as one of the key areas that her government will give more attention.
She called on all in the province to join hands with government in fighting the scourge of women abuse. “Let’s work together to ensure that women walk freely in our streets,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za
