Mxolisi Dukwana fires three Free State MECs

FREE STATE - Barely a month after he was elected as the Premier of the Free State, Mxolisi Dukwana reshuffled his Cabinet and fired three MECs on Tuesday.

Falling short of a wholesale removal of all the old MECs, Dukwana announced the appointment of five new MECs, while retaining four members who had served under the administration of his predecessor, Sisi Ntombela. The MEC for agriculture is expected to be announced after the finalisation of the consultative processes.

Ntombela resigned last month following pressure from the ANC after she was accused of failing to lead the government. This paved the way for newly-elected ANC Chairperson Dukwana to succeed her.

After he was elected as the Premier, Dukwana made his intention clear that he was going to reshuffle his Cabinet, citing pressure from the community for service delivery.

According to PEC members, Dukwana wanted to reshuffle his Cabinet a week ago but had to delay the process following the passing of Education MEC Tate Makgoe.

The MEC, who was buried on Sunday, died in a car accident with his protector two weeks ago. Makgoe’s car hit two cattle on the N1 south near Winburg.

Dukwana announced the replacement of the late Education MEC. He also appointed ANC provincial deputy Chairperson Ketso Makume as the cooperative governance, traditional affairs and human settlements MEC, a position which was vacant after he was elected as the premier in February.

Makume was sworn in as one of the members of the Legislature on Monday, alongside Dibolelo Mahlatsi, Mathabo Leeto and Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae. He was also one of the people who were interviewed for the position of the premier before Dukwana was appointed last month.

However, City Press has learnt that Dukwana decided not to name the MEC for agriculture because he was still trying to find a suitable person for the position.

“We don’t know why he went on to announce the rest but cannot name the MEC for agriculture and rural development, because he has all the people he wanted in the PEC,” said one insider.

Dukwana fired MEC for community safety, roads and transport William Bulwane and replaced him with Letsoha-Mathae.