Limpopo MPLs not on premier’s list

LIMPOPO Premier Stan Mathabatha has hinted he will look beyond the current members of the provincial legislature (MPLs) when he replaces the late education MEC Thembi Nwedamwutsu.

He had said on Tuesday that he would replace Nwedamwutsu in May. She died last month.

Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Jerry Ndou has been acting in the position.

Mathabatha had said he needed time before making the appointment because “you really need to reflect deeply, you must appoint one among your best”.

Unlike the president, who is permitted to appoint a maximum of two people who are not MPs into his cabinet, premiers are confined to the legislatures when they assemble provincial executive councils.

After the MEC’s death, Limpopo has nine MECs.

Under chapter 6 of the constitution, the executive council of a province consists of the premier as head of the council and no fewer than five and no more than 10 MECs.

“We don’t have a vacuum, there is an MEC acting. We are left with two months before we can make a shift (in the legislature list), so we are waiting for May,” said Mathabatha, emphasising that this was the only reason why he was not filling the vacancy.

The province’s Electoral Commission representative, Nkaro Mateta, said that by law, political parties should wait a year after the election date before they could amend a list of MPLs.

“They will have to wait for May 6 to change the order of the list if they want to change MPLs,” Mateta said.

But she said the ANC was not restricted by any regulations if it wanted to replace Nwedamwutsu. “For now, it can replace based only on the list it already submitted before the elections,” she said.

Mathabatha’s remarks have irked some ANC MPLs.

“When he says he wants to appoint one among the best, does he mean we are useless? That he can’t see anyone with potential among us?” asked an MPL, speaking anonymously.

The planned ANC provincial general council, which will appoint a party treasurer to replace Nwedamwutsu, could also be a determining factor.

“It’s possible that he is waiting to appoint whoever is elected treasurer as MEC. As an official, the ANC treasurer is expected to become MEC,” said an ANC insider.