Pretoria – Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has announced a restructured provincial government, which is set to improve how services are delivered in the province.
Premier Mabuza was sworn into office on Thursday by Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba after his re-election by the Mpumalanga Legislature last week.
On Friday, the premier announced the 10 Members of the Executive Council (MECs), who will serve in the new administration under his leadership.
Announcing the MECs, Premier Mabuza said he had every confidence that the MECs’ skills and experience would contribute immensely to the provincial government’s efforts of speeding up development and service delivery.
“I have assembled a team of men and women to form part of the executive that will be tasked with leading and taking this province to greater heights.
“As part of strengthening the delivery machinery of government, we have decided to reorganise and restructure some of our departments in order to focus on those aspects of government work that require urgent attention,” he said.
The changes include the splitting of the Department of Health and Social Services into two departments, with each having a dedicated MEC.
“We want to ensure that we give targeted focus on addressing challenges in our health care system, as well as ensuring that we able to respond to social development challenges raised by the communities,” Premier Mabuza said.
A new Department of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism has been created. The Environmental Services function in the current Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Environment will be incorporated into the Department of Agriculture to form a new Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environment Affairs. The other departments remain the same.
Names of the MECs and their portfolios are:
1. MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Andries Gamede
2. MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Vusi Shongwe
3. MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Refilwe Mtsweni
4. MEC for Culture, Sport and Recreation, Norah Mahlangu
5. MEC for Education, Reginah Mhaule
6. MEC fore Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Eric Kholwane
7. MEC for Health, Gillion Mashego
8. MEC fore Human Settlements, Violet Siwela
9. MEC for Public Works, Roads and Transport, Dumisile Nhlengethwa
10. MEC for Social Development, Nomsa Mtsweni
– SAnews.gov.za
