Pretoria - Limpopo premier and ANC provincial chairperson Stan Mathabatha is under pressure by his party to reshuffle his cabinet.
Two months ago, he reconfigured the executive following the party’s elective conference that saw five MECs being dumped from the provincial executive committee (PEC).
The PEC met last week to discuss, among other things, the reshuffle and the party’s endorsement of President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term ahead of the ANC’s national elective conference in December.
The highest provincial decision-making body also gave the nod to party treasurer-general Paul Mashatile taking up the position of deputy president, with Mathabatha backed to contest for the position of chairperson.
The move to reshuffle the provincial executive is believed to be aimed at paving the way for embattled deputy provincial chairperson Florence Radzilani and treasurer Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana, who are both allegedly linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.
Radzilani had to resign as Vhembe District mayor after allegedly being implicated in the scandal.
Speaking to the Pretoria News, new PEC member and spokesperson Jimmy Machaka said the reshuffle was imminent.
Machaka said: “The reshuffle of the executive committee is expected any time now; it’s in the hands of the premier to decide when.”
He said there was no indication as yet who would be dumped and who would be retained.
However, the Pretoria News can reveal that in the firing line are Social Development MEC Dickson Masemola, who lost to Mathabatha at the provincial elective conference in June; Sport Arts and Culture MEC Thandi Moraka; Agriculture MEC Nandi Ndalani; Transport and Community Safety MEC Polly Boshielo; and Treasurer MEC Seaparo Sekoati.
All five were left out of the PEC after the elective conference in June.
“There is no indication as to who will be reshuffled; however, the PEC made it clear that the deputy chairperson, Radzilani, and provincial treasurer, Sibanda-Kekana are top priorities. The premier reserves the right to reshuffle at any moment.”
Machaka said the party was unanimous regarding the decision and that they did not expect any backlash from party branches. “The ANC is not expecting a backlash because the call is genuine and necessary and the decision to back Ramaphosa was without a single contest as the PEC agreed unanimously on the matter.”
However, a party insider close to the PEC said the reshuffle was expected to be completed this week.
“It’s up to the premier to make a decision as who to reshuffle, but the PEC has resolved to reshuffle all five who are not in the PEC. But like I said it’s the prerogative of the premier,” the source said.
Responding to questions from the Pretoria News, Mathabatha’s spokesperson Willy Mosoma distanced the office of the premier from the decisions of the ANC.
“As government, we don’t know what the premier thinks about the decision of the PEC. As it stands, we know that in terms of the law, it is the prerogative of the premier to constitute or reshuffle the Executive Council.
“Therefore, it is left for the premier to exercise his constitutional mandate. Hence we are required to allow the premier space to exercise his mind on the matter.”
In June, Masemola was moved from Public Works and Infrastructure to the less influential Social Development portfolio, while former Social Development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale swopped portfolios with him.
Mathabatha also demoted Education MEC Polly Boshielo, who was redeployed to the Community Safety and Transport Department and replaced by Mavhungu Leruli-Ramakhanya.
Pretoria News