GAUTENG premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced sweeping changes to his executive, promising to put major focus on economic recovery, the fight against crime and corruption, and changing living conditions in townships.
Lesufi’s changes come a day after he was sworn in at the provincial legislature on Thursday.
A man of action, Lesufi said improving the economy, the fight against corruption and the township economy were some of the non-negotiables for his executive for the next 18 months in office.
Lesufi said the new cabinet will also be continuing on the work done by the previous administration led by former Premier David Makhura and will have key priorities.
“The first one is the immediate need to ensure economic recovery and reconstruction. We want to accelerate the recovery part of it and the repositioning of the Gauteng economy. Two, we want to strengthen the immediate fight against crime, corruption, vandalism and lawlessness,” said Lesufi.
“Three, we want to move immediately to change the living conditions in the townships, informal settlements and hostels.”
Lesufi said his new Cabinet will also continue with and build on the Growing Gauteng Together 2030 blueprint laid out by the administration before his appointment.
The GGT blueprint is a strategic plan for how the provincial government will lead towards a just and sustainable economy and society.
During his briefing, Lesufi acknowledged that his team would have to navigate the difficulties of governing to implement the policies and promises made to the electorate.
He said that to accelerate these immediate priorities, he consulted widely with his party, the African National Congress (ANC), and the alliance partners in an attempt to put together a formidable team.
Lesufi played a balancing act in order to ensure continuity and guide the ship through turbulent waters of governance by also appointing the “Adiwele” faction who did not support his election as ANC chairperson during the recent provincial conference in June.
The Adiwele leaders who were appointed to his executive include Tasneem Motara, Mbali Hlophe, Mzi Khumalo and Kedibone Diale.
The Adiwele faction supported Lebogang Maile’s campaign to become ANC chairperson during the provincial conference in June.
Maile’s campaign in the run-up to the conference was named after the popular Amapiano song, ‘Adiwele’, which makes reference to the pursuit for a better life, or “sifuna impilo emnandi” [economic freedom in our life time].
“We consulted widely with the ANC and alliance partners. They were firm in terms what type of person they wanted in the executive. The ANC said we must appoint leadership beyond reproach, not attached to scandals with no questionable characteristics,” said Lesufi.
“They said only competent people are to be appointed, and there must be no compromise on gender parity.”
Lesufi retained seven MEC’s from the previous administration but shifted them to different portfolios.
Motara is now the new MEC for Economic Development, while Hlophe was appointed the new Social Development MEC.
Khumalo will serve as the MEC for e-government, COGTA, research and development while Diale was appointed MEC for Transport and Logistics.
Diale’s mandate is to ensure E-tolls are scrapped.
While the Gauteng provincial executive committee (PEC) wanted former transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo to be axed, alliance partners insisted he be retained.
Mamabolo will now serve as MEC of Finance and has been tasked with the establishment of a State Bank and a state-run pharmaceutical company.
“There must be no hospital without medication. We will buy medication directly on our own,” said Lesufi.
Nomantu Nkomo- Ralehoko took over as MEC for health and wellness.
“We need a senior leader in the ANC to be deployed there and take the responsibility of health on our behalf and within that context. We have appointed the deputy chairperson of the ANC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to be the new MEC for health and wellness. Another challenge in health is financial management,” said Lesufi.
Lesufi appointed education portfolio committee chairperson Matome Chiloane to lead his previous Education portfolio, while Faith Mazibuko will stay on as the Community Safety and Security MEC.
Maile was appointed infrastructure and human settlements MEC.
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