Parties react to Limpopo Cabinet reshuffle

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s shake-up of the Executive Council has drawn mixed reactions from political parties, putting service delivery improvement under a spotlight.

Former Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality Mayor Eddie Maila is now Health MEC, Pule Shayi is CoGHSTA MEC, and Constance Kupa-Mabuza is the current Sport, Arts and Culture MEC.

Nakedi Kekana has moved from Agriculture and Rural Development to Transport and Community Safety, while former CoGHSTA MEC Basikopo Makamu has moved to Agriculture.

Ramathuba said the reshuffle followed a rigorous assessment of the performance of the ExCo, conducted in response to the feedback and lived experiences of the residents of Limpopo.

Ramathuba said the reconstitution was a necessary step to accelerate the province’s developmental agenda.

“Each member of the previous ExCo has worked tirelessly to advance the ideals and goals of this administration,” Ramathuba said.

The DA in Limpopo argued that the reshuffle puts the interests of the African National Congress (ANC) ahead of the needs of the people of the province.

DA Provincial leader Jacques Smalle said the change is clearly driven by ANC internal politics and not by a need to improve the performance of the provincial government.

“Pule Shayi is promoted to oversee municipalities after five years in which Mopani failed to achieve a single qualified audit. Both Mopani and Fetakgomo-Tubatse had equitable share funding withheld by the National Treasury for persistent and serious financial management non-compliance,” Smalle said.

EFF’s Rebecca Mohlala rejected the reshuffle as a political rearrangement rather than a genuine intervention to improve service delivery.

“The appointment of Eddie Maila as MEC for health raises serious questions. He moves from Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality to a department responsible for the entire provincial health system. The premier must explain what specific health sector experience and performance record make him the appropriate person to lead Limpopo health. The appointment of Constance Bella Kupa-Mabuza is equally concerning. She has moved through senior ANC municipal and district positions, including responsibilities linked to water and infrastructure, while communities in Sekhukhune continue to experience serious water challenges. Her elevation raises the broader concern that ANC politicians are being recycled and promoted instead of being held accountable for service delivery,” Mohlala said.

However, ANC Sekhukhune Regional Secretary Mathope Tala said they welcomed the provincial government Cabinet reconfiguration.

“We commend the decision of the premier to strengthen the functionality and the capacity of government. We believe these changes will provide greater impetus for the delivery of services to our people,” Tala said.