Re-elected Makhura promises major changes
Younger cabinet, prioritisation of economic growth, job creation, health system overhaul
GAUTENG Premier David Makhura, who was re-elected yesterday, has undertaken to make massive changes in his provincial cabinet, which he is expected to announce between today and tomorrow.
Addressing the media on the sidelines of the first sitting of the provincial legislature, Makhura said his cabinet would be much younger than in the previous administration, with older appointees being brought in to share the benefits of experience.
“You’re going to see a lot of changes. The ANC caucus here is younger, more energetic and better educated. When I announce the cabinet, you are going to see it combines all of that. We will combine experience with energy,” Makhura said.
While Makhura would not divulge the names of those he would appoint, he said some of those he would handpick on the basis of experience had run municipalities.
Former Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau and former Tshwane mayor Sputla Ramokgopa have been touted for seats in Makhura’s provincial executive council.
Makhura was one of eight ANC premiers who were installed in their respective provinces yesterday following the general elections, where the party displayed the most dismal performance in Gauteng, with 50.19%.
He said the ANC-led administration had understood the signal of discontent and unhappiness that Gauteng citizens had expressed at the polls.
“The people in Gauteng are impatient and we have heard them,” Makhura said.
He said despite the ANC’s bad electoral performance at the polls, his previous provincial administration had played a leading role in education, economic revitalisation and job creation, including the creation of opportunities for the youth.
He said economic growth and job creation would be the “apex priority” of the sixth administration in the economic hub.
“The economy and jobs are going to be the number one issue, and when I do the deployment of MECs, you’re going to see when I assign people to responsibilities. You’re going to see what I mean when I say this issue is an important priority,” he said.
“We’re going to double our efforts in those areas, including fighting crime and corruption, where we were not doing well over time. The crime statistics are horrible,” he said.
Makhura also admitted that the provincial government had battled to turn around the fortunes of the health department, which he said was in a shambles.
“Our health system is really on its knees. We are going to do a big overhaul in administration. Having been premier for five years, I actually know where departments are not properly led, not just who is the head, but the overhaul of administration needed to bring in the capabilities to get us to deliver,” he said.
ANC provincial executive committee member Ntombi Mekgwe was also re-elected, as the speaker of the legislature.