Rustenburg – The Democratic Alliance in the North West was shocked at Premier Supra Mahumapelo’s cabinet reshuffle, provincial party leader Joe McGluwa said on Monday.
He said the DA was disappointed that former Moretele mayor and ANC deputy chairman, Sello Lehari, was appointed new Education and Sport Development MEC.
“The DA is not convinced that a man who could not manage a small municipality should now be appointed to take the future of our children in his hands. His appointment is just another ANC cadre deployment which proves that the ANC again put politics above the interest and education of our children,” he said.
“The department of education was already put under administration and the poor delivery of education in the province is worrying.”
McGluwa was also not happy about the appointment of the ANC provincial treasurer, Kgakgamatso Nkewu, as the new Social Development MEC and Ontlametse Mochware as the new Culture, Arts and Traditional Affairs MEC.
He said the DA welcomed the appointment of Dr Nicholas Mothalbane as Community Safety and Transport Management MEC.
“The DA respects him as a person of principle and integrity. We can only hope he will find solutions to the huge challenges in his department.”
Mahumapelo axed two Members of the Executive Council (MEC) and appointed four others.
Education and Sport Development MEC Maphefo Matsemela and Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Gaoge Molapisi were axed from the provincial executive council.
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, she replace Fenny Gaolaolwe.
The other departments remain unchanged, with Wendy Nelson retaining her position as Finance, Economic Enterprise Development MEC, Manketsi Tlhape retained her position as Rural Environment and Agricultural Development MEC. Magome Masike retained his position as Health MEC.
SA 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 the new appointments.
“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,” he said.
Matsemela and Molapisi retained their position as Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPL).
Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) in North West and the SA National Civic Organisation (Sanco) also welcomed the cabinet reshuffle.
African News Agency