ANC ANNOUNCES SHAKE-UP
A PROVINCIAL cabinet reshuffle will be announced before the end of next week to fill vacancies, which were created after the ANC in the Northern Cape yesterday announced several changes that will be made in the provincial legislature and cabinet.
The MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta), Alvin Botes, and ANC provincial chairperson Zamani Saul, along with Member of the Provincial Legislature Gladys Oliphant, will be deployed to the National Assembly.
Botes and Oliphant will be appointed onto the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), while Saul, Kai !Garib mayor Gina Cloete and ANC deployee Eunice Bojosi will serve on the national-to-national list.
ANC provincial deputy chairperson Bentley Vass was sworn in as a Member of the Provincial Legislature yesterday and will replace the chairperson of chairs, Dawid Rooi, who resigned.
NCOP member Mase Manopole and Member of Parliament Patrick Mabilo will return to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature.
ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga said that the party wished to move swiftly to effect changes in MEC for Coghsta, Alvin Botes
provincial government.
“We want to conclude the deployments and new appointments before the end of next week.”
He noted that the new provincial cabinet would accommodate the top five ANC officials, which is expected to result in a complete overhaul of MECs.
Ngxanga stated that the national leadership would be engaged regarding the possible deployment of members from the Northern Cape Member of the Provincial Legislature, Gladys Oliphant
to the national cabinet and stateowned enterprises.
“The oversight capacity in the provincial legislature needs to be strengthened by, among other things, the deployment of the senior leadership of the ANC to the provincial legislature.”
Ngxanga indicated that the role of ANC provincial chairperson was not a full-time position.
“I am the only one who must be here on a full-time basis. Saul will ANC provincial chairperson, Zamani Saul
remain the ANC provincial chairperson, it will not have any effect on the Province. Saul will regularly visit the Province to execute his political duties.”
Ngxanga added that the ANC would approach the premier to appoint an acting MEC for Coghsta.
“Based on weaknesses identified, a reshuffle will be announced next week in consultation with the premier and alliance partners. A meeting will be held next Tuesday to decide who should be included in the provincial legislature and fill the vacancies.”
Ngxanga was quick to point out that no one was owed a position in government and that deployments should not be taken personally.
“We have merely gone back to the drawing board to address deficiencies in government. It is not based on hard feelings and no one has been singled out.”
He said that Botes had requested “space and time” regarding his deployment to the National Assembly, when he was approached by the PEC.
“Botes was given until Wednesday (today) to resign. We granted him a reasonable request to first consult and interact with his family. Everything we do must be done in accordance with a harmonious relationship. There is no way that he can turn down a deployment.”
Ngxanga added that the deployments would strengthen the capacity of the Province following the resignation of Dipuo Peters and Tina Joemat-Petterson as Members of Parliament.
“The removal of the two Northern Cape ministers adversely affected the representation of the Province in Parliament and severely diminished our capacity to canvass for nationally-funded development projects in the Province.”