Muthambi likely to join Lim cabinet

With two vacant positions in the provincial cabinet following the recent resignation of Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Onicca Moloi and the death of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Joyce Mashamba, rumour has it that two female candidates are on the brink of being appointed as political heads of said departments.
It is alleged that Premier Stan Mathabatha is likely to appoint former Public Service and Administration Minister Faith Muthambi and Vhembe District Executive Mayor Florence Radzilani in the two vacant positions.
Premier’s spokesperson, Kenny Mathivha however refuted the allegations saying rumours remain rumours and reiterated that there was no crisis in the two departments in terms of service delivery. He further said the Premier doesn’t need a push from anyone to fill up the positions but will do so when the time is right.
Provincial Treasury MEC Rob Tooley is acting MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture while Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) MEC Seaparo Sekoati remains acting MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development.
Polokwane Observer spoke to various political opposition parties on the allegations. The Democratic Alliance (DA) Provincial Leader, Jacques Smalle said the two candidates are not fit to lead government departments, adding that Radzilani was still caught in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. He further stated that he was not excited about this probable move.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) acting Provincial Chairperson Rendani Munyai emphasised that this would be a joke because Mathabatha can’t recycle leadership. The duo has a lot of skeletons in their closets. Muthambi was removed from the national cabinet because she was not performing well and Radzilani is implicated in the VBS mess, Munyai stressed. These two are political accidents and can’t run a department, she concluded.
Renewed SA Party interim national leader Cornelis Roelofse said general elections are around the corner hence the African National Congress (ANC) wants to get support by deploying such people. “I am in doubt that the two can bring life in the provincial government because both of them have scandals,” he explained.
Congress of the People (Cope) Provincial Secretary Erick Mohlapamaswi outlined that the move would only take Limpopo backwards. The voters will punish ANC next year during the general elections if Mathabatha can appoint the duo.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za