By OBAKENG MAJE
Barely two months after the North West Premier, Lazarus Mokgosi appointed his Member of Executive Councils (MECs), he is now forced to relinquish some of them from their duties. This comes after the ANC National Executive Committee’s decision.
According to our highly-placed source, those who will bear the brunt are some of male MECs due to gender disparities. The ANC NEC has instructed the ANC in North West to remove some of male MECs from their positions and appoint females.
On 21 June 2024, Mokgosi appointed five men and five women as MECs in his EXCO. However, he was supposed to apply the 60/40 method.
The ANC spokesperson in North West, Tumelo Maruping said: “This is the matter that is going to be discussed during the ANC Provincial Working Committee (PWC) and Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting over the weekend. So, we will clarify the media on that matter next week.
“Truly, it is not a matter of reshuffling per se, but we are correcting the gender disparity and it must be implemented.”
When Mokgosi announced his Members of the Executive Council (MECs), he appointed Madoda Sabatha as the North West MEC for Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, former ANCYL president, Collen Maine as North West MEC for Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation, ANCYL provincial chairperson, Wessels Morweng as North West MEC for Department of Community Safety and Transport Management.
“I have also appointed Oageng Molapisi as North West MEC for Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs, former Kagisano-Molopo mayor, Bitsa Lenkopane as North West MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism, while Viola Motsumi will remain as the North West MEC for Education.
“Kenetswe Mosenogi has been appointed as North West MEC for Provincial Treasury, Sello Lehari as North West MEC for Department of Health. Elizabeth Mokua has been appointed as North West MEC for Department of Public Works and Roads, while former Speaker of North West Provincial Legislature, Sussana Dantjie, has been appointed as the North West MEC for Social Development,” he said.
Mokgosi further said that the 7th administration is a culmination of wider consultations within and outside the government. He added that this decision represents a dynamic interface between the exercise of the Premier’s constitutional prerogative in terms of Section 132 (2) of the Constitution and the established democratic practice of consultation with the leadership of the province, national and the alliance.
“I am confident that the Executive Council of the 7th administration is made up of men and women of high ethical standards, who are committed to serve the people and understand the implications of the oath of office they are to take before assuming their official duties.
The composition of the Executive Council affirms our commitment to assert gender equality and representation.
“It is a collective of institutional memory, fresh talents and skills required to accelerate service delivery and build on the foundation of the sixth administration. The Executive Council is enjoined by the Constitution to work as a unit under the leadership of the Premier and to be collectively and individually accountable to the Legislature for the exercise of their powers and performance of their functions,” said Mokgosi.
He said EXCO is ultimately accountable to the people of the North West, whose power of the vote is the foundation of our existence. Mokgosi said they dare not disappoint them.
“By powers vested in me in terms of Section 132 (2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, I hereby appoint the following Members of the Executive Council to lead the 7th administration.
“I congratulate all newly appointed MECs and wish to remind them all that we have been given the last available opportunity by the people of the North West to work for them and not ourselves nor our families and friends,” he said.
Mokgosi said the people in the province expect that they act with integrity in the conduct of their duties and carry themselves with dignity in both our social and official conduct.
The Guardian 