No explanation for reshuffle call

ONCE again the much talked about cabinet reshuffle in the Eastern Cape is back on the agenda of the ANC provincial executive committee.

The proverbial long political knives have been out for premier Phumulo Masualle for months now.

It is reported that ANC provincial bosses want rural development and agrarian reform MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, economic development and finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo and their public works counterpart Thandiswa Marawu to be dumped from the cabinet and reduced to backbenchers.

But it seems that Masualle is unwilling to do so, much to ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi’s annoyance.

Last month, the premier told this newspaper that he had no plans of making changes to his cabinet.

This has angered the PEC. What we know for now is that the new PEC led by Oscar Mabuyane wants to effect changes to the cabinet – apparently to “strengthen” the provincial government. The assumption from the latter statement is that those targeted for the chop are badly performing in their portfolios. But the ANC has not said that or given the public any scorecard or assessment of the various MECs’ performance.

Some within the ruling party believe the three MECs are being targeted merely because they had supported Masualle’s failed bid for a third term as ANC provincial chairman. Masualle was defeated by Mabuyane at the provincial conference held in October last year.

The ANC has denied that the suggested reshuffle has anything to do with intra-party squabbles. However, the party owes the people of the Eastern Cape a much better explanation as to why the changes are necessary. Public perception also matters and it is important that the ANC takes the public into its confidence about why the changes are necessary. The provincial government has not been the most effective.

If anything, Masualle has shielded some of the worst-performing MECs. However, the three targeted MECs are considered to be doing well in their portfolios. It might well be that the ANC knows something we don’t. If that is the case, then they should tell us. And while at it, the governing party should also give us an honest assessment of the rest of the provincial cabinet’s performance.

If there are changes to be made, the ANC ought to explain to the public, and more importantly the voters, how the changes will impact their lives. Frankly, for the man on the street, it matters not as to which MEC is responsible for what portfolio, as long as it does not change the price of bread and improves their quality of life.

The people want potholes to be fixed, they want houses to be built for them, they want uninterrupted water and electricity supply and they also want bucket toilets and mud schools to be eradicated.

The people of the Eastern Cape also want a thriving economy that creates much-needed jobs. The ANC is always quick to point out that it has the prerogative to “deploy and redeploy” its members. That may well be the case but the party should go further and tell us how the changes will benefit us.