POLOKWANE – Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba’s decision to reconstitute her executive council last Tuesday has drawn sharp criticism, mainly from opposition parties, while some ANC structures have offered cautious support alongside concerns over representation.

EFF rejects new executive

The EFF rejected the new executive, describing the changes as a political rearrangement that would not address the province’s challenges.

In a statement last Thursday, the EFF said the reshuffle rewarded ANC officials with a history of poor service delivery and questioned the last-minute swearing-in of Eddie Maila and Pule Shayi as members of the Provincial Legislature before their appointment as MECs for Health and Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs respectively.

“This raises legitimate questions about whether the reshuffle was genuinely driven by the interests of the people of Limpopo or by the internal political requirements of the ANC,” the EFF said.

ANC Women’s League concerned over gender parity

Criticism was not limited to the opposition. The ANC Women’s League welcomed the appointment of women to the executive but expressed disappointment over what it described as a decline in female representation.

The league congratulated its Provincial Executive Committee member Constance Kupa-Mabuza on her appointment as MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, but said the new executive regressed on gender parity.

The changes saw former Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye and Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego replaced by Maila and Shayi. Kupa-Mabuza was the only woman appointed, replacing former Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Jerry Maseko.

Through provincial secretary Tebogo Mamorobela, the league said it would seek a meeting with Ramathuba, who is also the ANC’s Limpopo provincial chairperson, to discuss the matter.

ANC Youth League welcomes changes but voices disappointment

Meanwhile, the ANC Youth League welcomed the reshuffle, saying it had long called for changes and specifically welcomed Mathye’s removal from Transport and Community Safety.

The league, however, expressed disappointment that its provincial chairperson, Faith Sebopela, was not appointed to the executive.

“Her exclusion signals a failure by the movement to adequately recognise the role and aspirations of young people,” the youth league said in a statement issued on Thursday by provincial secretary Phineas Sebola.

ANC defends decision

Despite the criticism, the ANC in Limpopo defended Ramathuba’s decision, saying the reconfiguration followed a rigorous performance assessment and was aimed at improving service delivery.