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Free State Premier Ace Magashule. Picture: Bongiwe Mchunu

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• Free State premier fires MEC

Free State premier Ace Magashule removed a possible political opponent with his cabinet reshuffle, the DA said on Wednesday.

This would probably not be the last reshuffle of the provincial executive committee prior to the ANC's provincial congress in the Free State, provincial Democratic Alliance leader Roy Jankielsohn said.

Magashule removed economic development, tourism and environmental affairs MEC Mxolisi Dukwane from the executive. Olly Mlamleli was appointed the new corporate governance, traditional affairs and human settlements MEC.

The former MEC for this department, Mamiki Qabathe, would replace Dukwane at economic development.

Jankielsohn said the changes were blatantly political in nature, with the removal of a possible opponent in Dukwane, and the inclusion of a staunch Magashule loyalist, Mlamleli.

He said Qabathe, rumoured to be on her way out, managed to maintain her position in the executive council with a blatantly praise-singing speech during the state-of-the-province debate on Monday.

Jankielsohn said Magashule could not expect to deliver on his last three state-of-the-province promises if he continued to surround himself with mediocrity.

Free State government spokesman Wisani Ngobeni said Mlamleli was chairwoman of the portfolio committee on corporate governance, traditional affairs and human settlements in the Free State legislature. He gave no reason why Dukwane was dropped from the executive council. - Sapa

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