DA calls for resignations of MECs

Durban - The DA on Thursday called for the resignation of the province's health and transport MECs.

The party's call followed revelations that the KwaZulu-Natal transport department did not abide by regulations during a recruitment process for traffic police that resulted in the deaths of eight people.

"Premier Senzo Mchunu in the KZN legislature last night revealed gross negligence on the part of both departments over the manner in which the recruitment drive was managed," DA provincial leader Sizwe Mchunu said in a statement on Thursday.

"Both MECs have blood on their hands. The right thing to do would be to resign."

Willies Mchunu is the province's MEC for transport, community, and liaison, while the health MEC is Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

However, the ANC rejected the DA's call as "political posturing".

ANC Deputy Chief Whip Nontembeko Boyce said in a statement the commission never called for the resignation of any political leaders.

He said the government was committed to implement the commission's findings.

The eight people died when they took part in a 4km run at Pietermaritzburg's Harry Gwala Stadium in December 2012.

This formed part of a fitness test for Road Traffic Inspectorate job applicants. More than 40 000 people qualified to apply for 90 advertised RTI trainee posts. Of these, 20 000 applicants attended a fitness test on 27 December and a similar number on 28 December.

Mchunu held a press conference on Wednesday where he revealed some details of the commission of inquiry's report.

According to him the commission had recommended compensation to the families of the victims as well as disciplinary procedures to be undertaken against four transport department officials.

The report would not be released until the concerned families had time to examine it.