Former African National Congress (ANC) Youth League President Collen Maine has been replaced as the North West MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation.
This after the ANC national leadership instructed the provincial structure to rectify gender disparity in the provincial cabinet. Maine’s axing is to comply with ANC’s policy of gender representation in the provincial cabinet.
The ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved that all provincial governments should have more women than men as MECs, especially in provinces where the premier is male.
Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has been under immense pressure to drop one male member of his executive committee in order to achieve a 60/40 ratio in his cabinet.
This after he appointed five males and five females to his executive following the national and provincial elections in May this year. Tsotso Tlhapi has been sworn in as the new MEC for Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, replacing Maine.
“She’s bringing in various expertise, skills and experience. You recall she was also member of the legislature and she was the member of the executive in the previous administration. And therefore, we believe that such experience will make valuable contribution towards bettering the lives of our people in the North West,” says Mokgosi.
Tlhapi has promised to hit the ground running.
“I am here to make sure that the plans that have been made at the lekgotla that recently the government has held, I’m going to make sure that I improve, and make sure that they implemented. This is not the first time as the MEC in this department. I’m coming for the second time in this department and I know the needs of our people and I’m going to make sure that I work with all relevant stakeholders can assist our people in the province of Bokone Bophirima.”
Maine’s axing might have political implications as far as geographical representation is concerned.
“One would say that maybe the premier was expected to balance all four regions of the province. So, in him not having done that, it also becomes an issue particularly as far as politics are concerned of the province. In as far as you look at the fact that we are going into the conference come 2026. So, that is going to be raising a question to say that, will his region about the fact that, has only one candidate, in as far the MEC is concerned,” says political analyst from North West University Thabang Motswaledi.
Meanwhile, Maine will take over the position of North West Provincial Legislature Deputy Speaker which was occupied by SANCO provincial chairperson Tshepo Khoza. Khoza resigned last month after allegations that he had falsified his matric results.
However, Maine’s redeployment as Deputy Speaker has angered SANCO, as they wanted their deputy chairperson Joseph Moyo to take over the position.
“We are saying to the ANC, they must continue with its own behaviour and its own conduct. We will see how things unfold as time progresses. Currently we are making relevant consultations with regard to the future of the South African National Civic Organisation within the alliance which is led by the African National Congress,” says SANCO NW spokesperson Mzukisi Jam.
The ANC has hit back, saying the position was not reserved for any alliance partner.
“It’s not like the position was reserved for a certain alliance partner or a structure. By the way when we deploy comrades to municipalities or provincial legislatures, they are members of the ANC and they are deployees of the ANC. There are no positions reserved for a specific person, but it’s a continuation with SANCO,” says Tumelo Maruping, ANC NW Spokesperson.
Maine is expected to be elected the Deputy Speaker in the next few days.
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