Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced his Cabinet with the pompous Democratic Alliance after the African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula instructed him to do so on Wednesday night.
Mbalula said during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that should the DA fail to come to the party, Lesufi's Cabinet would be announced regardless.
“The work starts now. We apologies to the people of Gauteng for postponing twice to announce the Cabinet,” Lesufi said.
Lesufi’s new cabinet members are;
Health – Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko (ANC)
Environment – Sheila Mary Peters (Patriotic Alliance)
Agriculture and Rural Development – Vuyiswa Ramokgopa (Rise Mzansi)
Social Development – Faith Mazibuko (ANC)
eGovernment – Bonginkosi Dlamini (IFP)
Roads and Transport – Kedibone Diale-Tlabela (ANC)
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture – Matome Chiloane (ANC)
Infrastructure Development and COGTA – Jacob Mamabolo (ANC)
Human Settlements – Tasneem Motara (ANC)
Treasury and Economic Development – Lebogang Maile (ANC)
Faith Mazibuko, Matome Chiloane, Tasneem Motara, Lebogang Maile, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko and Kedibone Diale-Tlabela retained their positions in the Gauteng cabinet. Notably, the Department of Education has been merged with the Department of Sport, Arts and Recreation while Community Safety has moved to the Office of the Premier. The IFP’s Bonginkosi Dhlamini has been announced as the MEC of E-government, MEC for Agriculture and MEC for Rural Development is Rise Mzansi’s Vuyiswa Ramokgopa and Environment MEC is the PA’s Sheila Mary Peters.
Earlier, Mbalula reiterated that the DA must refrain from being pompous and negotiating in bad faith.
"We are unable to accede to the DA’s latest proposals, as we have indicated throughout negotiations. The DA is not the only party we are negotiating with on the setting up of the government of provincial unity. The ANC reiterates its firm held conviction that the task of setting up government in the economic heartland of our country is both urgent and overdue. It would be responsible to continue with this impasse."
This follows disagreements between the ANC and DA over provincial cabinet’s positions which led to the postponements of Panyaza’s cabinet announcements twice. Mbalula who didn’t mince his words said Lesufi must announce his cabinet without the DA because South Africans cannot be held ransom by DA Federal Chairperson Helen Zille who is counterrevolutionary and selfish.
“We assure South Africans that the soon to be appointed Gauteng Government of Provincial Unity will be expected to immediately get down to work on the pressing issues facing the Gauteng province and our people,” Mbalula said.
He also confirmed that ANC Gauteng would not be working with Jacob Zuma’s new political toy uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).
“EFF and MK Party say they don’t want to be part of government of national unity,” said Mbalula
DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said: “In the spirit of unity and to build a relationship with a foundation of trust, we entered these critical negotiations. It is, however, impossible for the DA to be co-opted into government, as we are meant to be power-sharing partners.”
“We will not be functionaries who rubber stamp decisions made by an executive that, evidently, is intent on keeping us on the edge of the fray. Beyond the problematic nature of an attitude that seemingly does not understand what their significant loss of the vote share in Gauteng entails, an air of refusal to be partners, which ultimately is the goal, dominated conversations.”
ANC SG Fikile Mbalula.
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