By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mpumalanga premier Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane on Wednesday reshuffled her cabinet.
“It is in the spirit of optimising our effectiveness and ensuring that we deliver better services to the people of Mpumalanga while calibrating the provincial economy that I announce changes to the executive component of the provincial government,” she said.
Her new members of the executive council include Speedy Mashilo, who will be responsible for the department of human settlements, and Busisiwe Shiba, who will be responsible for the department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs.
MEC Vusi Mkhatshwa will be responsible for finance, economic development and tourism and MEC Mohita Latchminarain will be responsible for the department of public works, roads and transport.
MECs who will be moved from their incumbent portfolios to new portfolios are: Vusi Shongwe, who will be responsible for the department of community safety, security and liaison, and MEC Thandi Shongwe, who will be responsible for the department of culture, sport and recreation.
MEC Mandla Msibi will be responsible for the department of agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, while MEC Lindiwe Ntshalintshali will be responsible for the department of social development.
Community Safety, Security and Liaison MEC Gabisile Shabalala, Finance and Economic Development MEC Pat Ngomane, Human Settlements MEC Norah Mabena-Mahlangu and Public Works Roads and Transport MEC Gilleon Mashego have been fired.
Mtsweni-Tsipane said the performance of the newly constituted executive will be monitored against specific outcomes and where there is non-performance, decisive action will be taken.
The premier added that the composition of her executive council reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advance the development of capable female leaders, adding that women would continue to constitute 50% of the executive council.
The 50-50 gender parity is part of the ANC’s Nasrec resolution that women must be represented in equal numbers in the cabinet, legislatures and councils.