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Deputy Minister in the Presidency Steve Letsike
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) is calling for the immediate resignation of Deputy Minister in the Presidency Steve Letsike as Vice President of the South African Pharmacy Council.
The party says Letsike’s dual role raises concerns about governance, ethics and the independence of the statutory regulator.
MK Party MP Patrick Motubatse says a serving Deputy Minister should not simultaneously hold office in an independent regulatory body.
“This matter is about governance, ethics, national independence and public confidence. We believe it is appropriate for a serving Deputy Minister in the Presidency to simultaneously not occupy a position of vice president of an independent data regulator such as the South African Pharmacy Council.”
Motubatse says the arrangement creates concerns around public confidence in the regulator.
“This clearly creates a serious perception of conflicts of risks, undermining confidence in the public regulations. We therefore call for his immediate resignation as a deputy president of the institution,” Motubatse adds.
The South African Pharmacy Council had not commented on the matter at the time of reporting.
