North West premier reshuffles his cabinet
North West premier Supra Mahumapelo axed two MECs and hired four more in his cabinet reshuffle on Monday.
Education and Sports Development MEC Maphefo Matsemela and Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Gaoge Molapisi were axed from the provincial executive council.
Former Moretele local municipality mayor and African National Congress (ANC) provincial deputy chairman Sello Lehari was appointed the new MEC (Member of Executive Council) for the department of education and sports development and Dr Mpho Motlhabane was appointed the new MEC for community safety and transport management.
Former social development MEC Galaletsang Fenny Gaolaolwe was redeployed to the department of local government and human settlement, left vacant by the election of Collen Maine as the ANC Youth League president.
Ontlametse Mochware was appointed the new MEC for the department of culture, arts and traditional affairs. The post was left vacant when former MEC Tebogo Modise was deployed to Ratlou local municipality as mayor.
Kgakgamatso Nkewu was appointed the new Social Development MEC and she would be replacing Fenny Gaolaolwe.
The other departments remain unchanged as Wendy Nelson retained her position as Finance, Economic Enterprise Development MEC, Manketsi Tlhape retained her position as Rural Environment and Agricultural Development MEC and Magome Masike retained his position as Health MEC.
The South African Communist Party provincial secretary Madoda Sambatha retained his position as Public Works and Roads MEC and Desbo Mohono retained her position as Tourism MEC.
The ANC in North West said it welcomed the changes in the provincial executive council and new appointments announced by Mahumapelo.
"The ANC strongly believes that the changes and new appointments serve to strengthen and stabilise the executive and will fast track the delivery of services to our people," said provincial secretary Dakota Legoete.
"The Premier presented a detailed report on the performance of his cabinet and consulted extensively with the ANC, its leagues and alliance partners on proposed changes.
"The ANC then mandated the premier as its deployee to effect these changes to the cabinet, in line with section 132 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa."
Legoete said the new MEC possess leadership qualities that would contribute greatly to the governance of the province because of their proven track record of serving the ANC with excellence.
"We call on them to join and support the premier in his endeavours to improve the delivery of services to our people. Premier Mahumapelo's groundbreaking vision of Saamtrek-Saamwerk is a cardinal point from which the ANC in the province expects all its deployees in government to depart from."
He said the new cabinet had 60 percent women representation, a testimony that the provincial leadership of the ANC was committed to provide opportunities and space for women to govern.
"We express our gratitude to Comrades Gaoage Molapisi and Mmaphefo Matsemela for having served the ANC-led provincial government with great honour during their time as MECs. We still believe they've got a crucial role to play as Members of the Provincial Legislature and we wish them well with that."
The new MECs were expected take oath of office and be inducted later on Monday.