JOHANNESBURG - The Economic Freedom Fighters has joined the Gauteng provincial government.
This was announced by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi as he reshuffled his cabinet.
The latest development means that Nkululeko Dunga from the EFF has been appointed as Finance MEC.
Dunga’s appointment will make him the first EFF member to serve in a provincial executive.
He is in charge of a budget of almost R180-billion.
Lebogang Maile moves from finance to Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko will take over the Department of Social Development with Faith Mazibuko moving to the Health and Wellness department.
Lesufi acknowledged that instability has been a key concern since the beginning of the seventh administration and that these changes were made in consultation with the ANC national leadership.
"It is within this context that the national leadership of the ANC gave us a go-ahead to engage other political parties to strengthen the Executive Council," Lesufi said.
"We engaged with several political parties, including the DA, EFF and Umkhonto We Sizwe and after broad consultations, we decided to make changes that add the Economic Freedom Fighters into the Executive Council."
The new Gauteng Executive Council is as follows:
- e-Government: BonginkosiDlamini(IFP)
- Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation: Lebogang Maile (ANC)
- Transport, Roads, and Logistics: KediboneDiale-Tlabela (ANC)
- Economic Development and Agriculture and Rural Development: Vuyiswa Ramokgopa (Rise Mzansi)
- Finance: Nkululeko Dunga(EFF)
- Health and Wellness: Faith Mazibuko (ANC)
- Human Settlements: Tasneem Motara (ANC)
- Environment: Ewan Botha (Patriotic Alliance)
- Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: Jacob Mamabolo (ANC)
- Department of Social Development: Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko (ANC)