DR Nomathemba Mokgethi has been appointed the new MEC for Health in Gauteng.
Her appointment was announced by Gauteng Premier David Makhura during a Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday.
“Having assessed the strengths of the current serving MECs I have decided to make the following changes: Dr Thembi Mokgethi is the new MEC for Health. She is not new to the sector and her knowledge, experience and qualifications make her a strong candidate to lead the portfolio,” said Makhura.
On 19 June 2020, premier David Makhura appointed her to the Executive Council as the MEC responsible for the provincial department of Social Development.
She took over from Panyaza Lesufi, who had acted in the position after the death of Thuliswa Nkabinde-Khawe in November 2019.
Mokgethi has also held senior leadership positions in the provincial structures of the ANC, the ANC Women’s League and the tripartite alliance.
Mokgethi replaces Dr Bandile Masuku who was removed for his involvement in the controversial personal protective equipment (PPE) tender scandal.
She holds a Masters’ degree in Nursing Sciences and a PhD in Literature from the University of South Africa, according to Makhura.
A Special Investigating Unit investigation found Masuku failed to provide sufficient oversight which led to irregular and wasteful expenditure.
Meanwhile, Makhura has also appointed former Johannesburg mayor, Parks Tau as the new Economic Development MEC.
Tau had been a deputy minister in the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) department.
The new MEC for Social Development is Morakane Mosupye. Mosupye has previously held the position of Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development in the legislature and also served as MMC for Health and Social Development in the City of Tshwane.
Inside Politics understands that Mokgethi enjoys support of the Provincial Secretary, Jacob Khawe, and his deputy, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
According to ANC insiders, Mokgwethi was not the first choice of Makhura.
Makhura, according to insiders, wanted Transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo to take over the health portfolio and was supported by MEC for Education Panyaza Lesufi.
Makhura also preferred Tau to replace Nkomo-Ralehoko as MEC for Finance and that as well was supported by Lesufi.
Following a heated meeting on Tuesday night, a compromise was reached to move Tau to Economic Development portfolio.
Meanwhile, the ANC Caucus in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature said it welcomed the changes in Executive of the Gauteng Provincial Government.
“The announcement by Premier David Makhura brings the following changes to the Executive; Gauteng Department of Social Development, Dr. Nomathemba Mokgethi is new MEC for Gauteng Health Department.
MEC Mokgethi is a seasoned public servant in the health sector and a highly experienced administrator in local government. MEC Mokgethi has 27 years of experience in local government, where she served as a municipal manager in three different municipalities,” according to the Office of the Chief Whip Mzi Khumalo..
“The appointment of the new MEC in health and the interventions will hopefully restore stability and enable the department to fully execute its much needed duties to the people of Gauteng.”
Khumalo added: “We acknowledge and appreciate the work done by the then Acting MEC for Health, MEC Jacob Mamabolo in steering the department through the most perilous and difficult period in the middle of a war against a deadly pandemic and the controversial PPE scandal.”
“We also welcome the appointment of MEC Mosupyoe as the new MEC for Social Development. MEC Mosupyoe is not new to the social development sector. She has previously held the position of Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development in the Gauteng Legislature and also served as MMC for Health and Social Development in the City of Tshwane.”
Khumalo said the legislature believed that the appointment of Tau as the new MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment will contribute immensely in the growth of the economy and create much needed jobs in our Province.
His experience as MMC and Mayor in the City of Johannesburg makes him equal to the task of growing one of the biggest economies in the world, said Khumalo.
“We are confident that changes will steer the Gauteng Provincial Government to greater heights.
The Economic Freedom Fighter’s Gauteng provincial chairperson Itani Edwin Mukwevho his party was concerned with the announcement of Tau as a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Economic Development within the province.
The EFF said the recycling of Tau into the Legislature was a big mistake.
The EFF in Gauteng said it rejects Tau’s appointment and demand that Makhura should immediately fire Joburg mayor Geoff Makhubo for his role in looting City Of Johannesburg together with Tau.
The party said Tau, who assisted Makhubo in facilitating deals that saw him benefiting R30 million inappropriately from Regiments, must never be allowed to replace Masuku who assisted King Madzikane ll of Royal Bacha Projects.
“We are of the opinion that the Premier is compromising the people of Gauteng by appointing a man who has a strong taste for corruption as MEC, especially in Economic Development,” said Mukwevho.
“By failing to announce who will be making way for Parks Tau in the legislature, David Makhura has once again proven his lack of decisiveness and disregard for the people of Gauteng. If speculations that Thulani Ndlovu (ANCYL member) had been asked to resign as an MPL to pave way for Parks Tau to be appointed as MEC are proven to be true, then ANC of Makhura has declared war against the youth. The ANC would have once again proven to be anti-youth by prioritizing Tau over young people who have a range of ideas, thoughts and perspectives that can enrich decision making processes.”
He added: “By failing to announce who will be resigning is a clear indication that the ANC’s internal processes and issues regarding this matter are not yet finalised.”
(SOURCE: INSIDE POLITICS)
