LIMPOPO – Having further assessed the performance of the executive council, Premier Chupu Mathabatha said the reshuffle was determined by who is best to deliver on service delivery and corporate governance promises.
Those recently announced as MECs include Nakedi Sibanda -Kekana, (one of the two sworn into the LEC on September 7) replacing Thandi Moraka in Sport, Arts and Culture, while Nandi Ndalane ousted Dr. Dickson Masemola in Social Development, Rodgers Monama replaced Thabo Mokone in the Limpopo Economic Development and Tourism Department.
Mokone now leads the Agriculture and Rural Development Department while Florence Radzilani heads the portfolio of Transport and Community Safety Department in the place of Polly Boshielo who no longer forms part of the executive council.
Radzilani will be sworn in at a later stage as she was abroad at the time the oath-signing ceremony was held, led by Limpopo Judge President Ephraim Makgoba.
The red berets from the EFF said they refuted that the changes to the executive council served in the province’s best interest, maintaining that it was done for political and personal benefit.
“The premier has over the years reshuffled the executive on the basis of friendship and political loyalty. Those who are loyal to him are recycled and moved to other portfolios despite their lacklustre performance. He rewards and appoint members of the executive on the basis of factional battles within the ANC not on the basis of good work ethics and clean governance,” a statement by the EFF reads.
The party also questions how some MECs including Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba and that of Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements, Basikopo Makamu escaped a reshuffle amid performance issues.
Meanwhile, the DA says the appointments of Radzilani and Sibanda-Kekana, who are former mayors of the Vhembe and Lepelle-Nkumpi respectively, were most concerning.
“[They were] involved in the VBS investment scandal, and fired after the release of the ‘Great Bank Heist’ report, but were subsequently awarded with seats in the Provincial Legislature,” Katlego Phala, Caucus Whip said.
A report had found that both municipalities unlawfully invested a combined total of R450m in the now beleagured VBS Bank, which has since been liquidated.
The two have, however, not been criminally charged.
