By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The North West Premier Bushy Maape has effected a cabinet reshuffle and fired two of his Members of the Executive Committee.
Maape announced that the newly appointed Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and ANC Chairperson, Nono Maloyi, will now be the new MEC for Cooperative Governance (Cogta). This comes as municipalities, like the Lichenburg-based Ditsobotla Local Municipality, among others, continue to be troubled by issues of service delivery.
ANC North West deputy secretary, Viola Motsumi, was appointed as the province’s new Education MEC. Motsumi served as deputy speaker in the provincial legislature.
Keneetswe Mosenogi was removed from the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Arts, Culture and Recreation.
Virginia Tlhapi was appointed as the MEC for Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism.
Lenah Miga and Wendy Matsemela were cut from the executive.
Maape said the Cabinet reshuffle came after extensive consultation with the leadership of ANC in the province and its alliance partners.
He said the changes were aimed at strengthening the work of government in expediting service delivery and addressing a number of challenges confronting the province.
“Since assuming office the provincial government has been stable and where there have been challenges, there have been appropriate actions to respond to such matters.
“This has been through the accelerated service delivery plan which is aimed at creating jobs and delivering services.
“Our municipalities continue to receive support through the Department of Finance in the form of financial recovery plans and other interventions,” the premier said in a statement.
The reshuffle came as no surprise following Maape’s failed bid to become the ANC provincial chair in August.