Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni Tsipane has carried out her first cabinet reshuffle, replacing four members of the Executive Council (MECs) appointed in 2019 with new members. The reshuffle, announced on February 24, 2021, sees the introduction of younger members who, according to Mtshweni Tsipane, embody commitment, hard work, integrity, and a dedication to improving the lives of the people in Mpumalanga.
The MECs who have been removed from their positions include Pat Ngomana, Gillion Mashego, Gabisile Tshabalala, and Nora Mahlangu, who were seen as loyalists of former Premier and now Deputy President of South Africa, David Mabuza. Their replacements include African National Congress Youth League leader, Vusi Mkhatshwa, and Mohita Latchminarain, a member of the Mpumalanga provincial legislature. Mtshweni Tsipane emphasized her commitment to providing a platform for capable youth leadership.
The new MECs also include Busisiwe Shiba, the former Speaker of the Mpumalanga provincial legislature, who has been appointed as MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), and Speed Mashilo, who returns to the Executive Council as MEC for the Department of Human Settlements. Mashilo is a leader of a strong ANC faction aligned to acting ANC provincial secretary Mandla Ndlovu.
The reshuffle is seen as a further blow to Mabuza's presidential ambitions, as he loses influence and control over the province. Mabuza had a reputation for being the de-facto premier running the province from the Union Buildings for the past two years. The move is likely to limit his chances of replacing President Cyril Ramaphosa as the next president of the ANC and the country.
The announcement of the reshuffle comes after public stunts by Mabuza's loyalists, who were photographed alongside former President Jacob Zuma and showed support for ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule during his court appearance on corruption charges. These events were seen as part of Mabuza's strategy to endear himself to supporters of both politicians in his bid for the highest office in the land.
However, Mtshweni Tsipane's new appointments have raised concerns about the integrity of some of the new MECs. Mkhatshwa and Latchminarain made headlines in 2019 when Latchminarain's husband released sexually explicit Whatsapp text messages suggesting a romantic relationship between the two legislators. Both denied the allegations, and Latchminarain's husband later apologized for sending the messages.
The elevation of Shiba and Mkhatshwa to the provincial executive has created vacancies for the Speaker and deputy Speaker positions in the Mpumalanga legislature. Mtshweni Tsipane's reshuffle is aimed at re-invigorating the functioning of the Executive Council, but she will need to address concerns about the credibility of her new appointments.
Key points
- The reshuffle is a blow to David Mabuza's presidential ambitions.
- New MECs have been appointed to prioritize commitment, hard work, and integrity.
- The reshuffle has created vacancies for the Speaker and deputy Speaker positions in the Mpumalanga legislature.
