The new members of the executive council were sworn in by the Judge President of the Limpopo High Court, George Phathudi, on Thursday 20 June in Polokwane. The executive of the seventh administration included some old and new faces.
The ten new MECs are Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya (Department of Education), Dieketseng Mashego (Department of Health), Basikopo Makamu (Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs), Florence Radzilani (Department of Social Development), Funani Jerry Maseko (Department of Sport, Arts and Culture), Kgabo Mahoai (Limpopo Provincial Treasury), Tshitereke Mtibe (Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism), Sebataolo Ernest Rachoene (Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure), Grace Kekana (Department of Agricultural and Rural Development) and Violet Mathye (Department of Transport and Community Safety).
Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya (Education) and Basikopo Makamu (Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs) remained in their positions, while Florence Radzilani was reassigned to the Department of Social Development, from her previous position as MEC of Transport and Community Safety.
Lindy Wilson, DA Caucus leader in the Limpopo Legislature, said her party is apprehensive about the new executive.
“In a province that has consistently underperformed in the last five years, the DA hoped that Premier Ramathuba would select a cabinet that was without skeletons in the closet and able to steer Limpopo around to address poor service delivery and the plight of the poor.”
“MEC for COGHSTA, Basikopo Makuma, has been reappointed, despite his failings. Municipalities are dysfunctional and in severe financial distress, riddled with corruption and unable to provide services to their communities. Not one Water Service Authority is delivering and the Human Rights Commission has declared them in violation of the Water Act.
The HRC report was clear that the MEC for COGHSTA was negligent in his oversight and monitoring of the water crisis in Limpopo,” she said in a press release.
The party also raised its concerns about the appointment of Mahoai as the MEC of Treasury.
“Mahoai was axed by the Directorate of International Relations and co-operation for an irregular expenditure of R118 million to obtain land in New York, which never materialised.
Mahoai has now been given the cookie jar of the province and will manage its finances. He is an unsuitable candidate given his history,” Wilson said.
The reappointment of Florence Radzilani, as MEC of Social Development is a red flag for the party. “Radzilani was called out on the VBS heist in an ongoing investigation, but now she is called upon to manage a critical portfolio with a large budget.”
The party were also concerned that the Department of Health, which must be a priority, will be headed by an MEC with no health background or experience.
Premier Ramathuba studied at Medunsa, where she obtained her medical degree. She achieved a Master’s Degree in Medical Pharmacology from the University of Pretoria and Advanced Health
Management from Manchester Business School. During her tenure as the MEC of Health, she was known for her no-nonsense, feet on the ground and hardworking leadership style.
Ramathuba was in the news in 2020 when she obtained a court order during the Covid-19 lockdown to force two medical doctors, Claire Olivier and Taryn Williams, who resided in Modimolle, to spend their isolation period in the Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis Hospital in town.
She once again made headlines locally when she told a Zimbabwean patient hospitalised in Bela-Bela in 2022 that undocumented immigrants are draining the country’s resources.
According to Ramathuba, who has been involved in politics since her student years:
“The province’s main focus will be on economic growth, unemployment, job creation, industrialisation, agriculture and rural development, water provision, roads and general infrastructure development, healthcare, education and crime,” she said.
