Four members of Mpumalanga Executive Council will have to join the unemployment queue following startling changes effected in the provincial cabinet on Wednesday.
Gillion Mashego, Pat Ngomane, Gabisile Shabalala and Norah Mahlangu have been given a boot by Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane in a bid to ensure her administration responds to service delivery challenges. “It is in the spirit of optimising our effectiveness and ensuring that we deliver better services to the people of Mpumalanga,” the Premier said in her address.
Mtshweni-Tsipane announced her new cabinet members to be Speedy Mashilo, Nkangala ANC chairperson, Vusi Mkhatshwa, Busisiwe Shiba and Mohita Latchminarain who will be responsible for Human settlement, Finance, economic development and tourism, Co-operative governance and traditional affairs (COGTA) and Public works, roads and transport respectively.
They were sworn-in immediately after Premier’s address by Judge President Francis Lekgodi at Ehlanzeni District Municipality. The Premier said that the reconfiguration was motivated by a number of considerations taken into account. “Key amongst which include members who embody commitment, hard work, integrity and the non-negotiable commitment to bettering the lives of our people,” she said. “The performance of the newly constituted executive will be monitored against specific outcomes and where there is non-performance, decisive action will be taken,” she added.
She also decided to move her praise-singer, Vusi Shongwe from the portfolio of agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs to community safety, security and liaison while Mandla Msibi is moved from Cogta to agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs. Thandi Shongwe, previously responsible for social development, swapped with portfolios with Lindiwe Ntshalintshali who was responsible for culture, sport and recreation.
The ANC in Nkangala displayed confidence in the new MECs. “We are also convinced that in their respective portfolios they possess leadership qualities that will contribute greatly to the governance of this province because of their proven track in the ANC with excellence and the people of Mpumalanga,” party spokesperson Sello Matshoga.
The Democratic Alliance, on the other hand, saw the changes as one faction gaining strength against the other. “It would appear that the changes made to the Mpumalanga Executive Council is indicative that the Premiers’ faction has now stamped their mark by booting out those who were aligned to then Premier David Mabuza, such as Ngomane and Mashego,” said DA provincial leader Jane Sithole.
