Masualle: no cabinet reshuffle – this month
PREMIER Phumulo Masualle yesterday said he had no plans to reshuffle his cabinet right now.
Breaking his silence about the much-publicised looming cabinet reshuffle, Masualle said he was not thinking about making changes.
“Not today, not tomorrow,” he said yesterday. “But I don’t want to preempt what will happen next as I could also be involved in a car accident and then such changes would be inevitable.”
He was speaking with the Daily Dispatch on the sidelines after a press conference on deals he had secured in China last week.
Asked about his discussion with the ANC provincial executive committee (PEC) on the “reconfiguration” of the Eastern Cape executive council, Masualle said he could not divulge details.
“I am having discussions with the ANC about everything, by virtue of being an ANC member as you would know. There are ways of dealing with ANC processes.
“I am allowing the proper processes to follow before making any announcements, for which I will call you [the media] if there are any,” Masualle said.
This follows an ANC PEC decision two months ago, which resolved to make major changes in the cabinet.
The Dispatch reported at the time that Masualle would remain premier, while the PEC resolved to fire agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo and public works MEC Thandiswa Marawu.
The PEC plan would see cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa moved to agrarian reform and MPL Xolile Nqatha promoted to Cogta political boss.
The Dispatch understands that plan was to effect the changes “as soon as possible” but when a team led by PEC deputy chair Mlungisi Mvoko met Masualle two weeks ago the premier asked for more time, citing the plans to travel to China.
With him were two of the MECs which are facing the axe, Somyo and Qoboshiyane, as well as senior parastatal managers.
Asked whether the removal of Somyo and Qoboshiyane would jeopardise any deals with the Chinese, Masualle said it would depend on how it was done.
“We are at a point where as the provincial government we are trying to get things [such as the deals with the Chinese] done.
“If there is any change to the executive that is not thought through properly, there may be disturbances but I am not saying it is going to be like that,” he said.
Masualle said performance reviews of MECs were ongoing.
“We are busy doing an introspection of the performance of government departments and there are successes as well as grey areas. We need to deal with these challenges but we have not reached a point of saying who will be removed.
“When we are done with the assessments I will invite the media and we will announce on the matter. I have discussions with the ANC about everything, as a party member. What I’m saying is that this cabinet will remain in office today [Wednesday] and it will be here tomorrow [Thursday].
“I can’t project what will happen next month.”