Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu has reconfigured his cabinet just two months in office. Culture, Sport and Recreation MEC Fidel Mlombo has been removed.
Mlombo, a COSATU deployee, makes way for former eMalahleni Mayor Leah Mabuza.
Ndlovu reshuffled his executive in accordance with the ANC’s resolution that provincial governments should have more women MECs where the premier is a male.
“So, there is a decision that was taken by the ANC that where a male premier is appointed, we should appoint total numbers of MECs are 10, we should appoint females, so we appointed five. So, we were reminded by the ANC to implement the decision taken by the party which was not rescinded, we were implementing that decision of the ANC,” says Ndlovu.
COSATU in Mpumalanga is not pleased by Mlombo’s removal.
“We have however noted with disappointment the manner in which our deployee comrade Fidel has been targeted and there were no other names and to us it was a very sad situation and of course we have accepted that reality with displeasure and disappointments. We must have further engagement,” says Thabo Mokoena from Mpumalanga COSATU.
Premier Ndlovu concedes that it was not easy to arrive at this decision, but he had to tow the party line.
Mabuza, a former eMalahleni Mayor, is confident that he will make a meaningful contribution in her new role.
“The Premier has already tabled the budget, looking at the unemployment rate, the participation in the province, especially to young people. I want to believe there is opportunity so that we can engage our young people and the women in this province.”
North West is another province directed to reconfigure its executive as per the ANC resolution.
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