New Gauteng MEC appointed

 

Gauteng lawmaker Mxolisi Eric Xayiya has been appointed MEC for economic development in the province, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said on Tuesday.

   

He would replace Nkosiphendule Kholisile, who was recently killed in a car accident. Xayiya would take office immediately, Mokonyane said.

   

He was previously chairman of the Road and Transport sub-committee in the Gauteng legislature and is currently a member of the Oversight Committee on the Office of the Premier in the Legislature (OCPOL).

   

The African National Congress in Gauteng welcomed his appointment.

   

"He has a lot to offer both in terms of his experience and commitment. He is hard working and dedicated cadre of the movement," spokesman Dumisa Ntuli said in a statement.

   

The Democratic Alliance described the appointment as a puzzling choic. "He does not have a strong economics background, unlike his predecessor Nkosiphendule Kolisile," DA Gauteng leader Jack Bloom said in statement.

   

"There are better qualified people in the ANC for this position, so it is a political appointment dictated by the balance of power between Premier Nomvula Mokonyane and Gauteng ANC chairperson Paul Mashatile."

   

Bloom said Xayiya had a daunting task ahead of him as the department's job creation efforts had mostly failed.

   

- Sapa