Pretoria – Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Wednesday night announced his Executive Council that excluded members of the Democratic Alliance (DA).
Premier Lesufi, the Gauteng chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) said: “We’ve been asked to leave no one behind.
“Today, we all declare that no one will be left behind unless they choose not to be part of GPU [Government of Provincial Unity]”.
After repeated delays – blamed on an impasse in negotiations with the DA – Premier Lesufi named the Provincial Executive that included:
1. E-Gov MEC Bonginkosi Dlamini (IFP).
2. Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile (ANC).
3. Education, Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane (ANC).
4. Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo Ralehoko (ANC).
5. Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela (ANC)
6. Human Settlements MEC Tasneem Motara
7. Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko (ANC)
8. Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Vuyiswa Ramokgopa (RISE Mzansi)
9. Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Jacob Mamabolo (ANC)
10. Environment MEC Sheila Mary Peters (PA)
Community Safety now falls under the Premier’s Office.
- Speaker, Madam Morakana Mosupye (ANC)
- Deputy Speaker, Madam Refiloe Ntshekhe (DA)
“We remain committed to building a better Gauteng. A Gauteng that will make all of us proud. A Gauteng that will fight crime, corruption, and lawlessness mercilessly,” said Premier Lesufi.
In the 29 May 2024 election, the ANC won 28 seats in the Gauteng legislature while the DA garnered 22 out of 80 available seats.
Earlier the DA said it has opted out of the GPU.
“After a prolonged engagement involving various senior members of parties on both ends, yesterday (2nd of July 2024), we found ourselves unable to accept a counter to our offer,” said the leader of the DA in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga.
“The offer made to the DA was and continues to be one we find both unfair and unreasonable.
“If both parties were negotiating in good faith, the situation might have been different now.
“That was not the case, and the DA cannot be a part of a government that does not value fairness, proportionality, and principles in the same way we do.”
Msimanga said the DA has a long history of being a strong and unforgivingly thorough opposition.
“We are both comfortable and proud to enter back into the opposition benches from where we will serve the people of Gauteng,” he said.
Indications are that the DA will ask Deputy Speaker, Madam Ntshekhe, to resign from her position.
