Sogoni broom denies Cosatu/SACP a clean sweep

Eastern Cape Premier Mbulelo Sogoni announced his cabinet on Friday afternoon leaving Alliance partners Cosatu and the South African Communist Party decidedly unhappy with the final outcome.

Cosatu and the SACP wanted a clean sweep with almost all the existing members of the provincial cabinet axed but in the end had to be satisfied with what was a compromise with some of the old guard being retained. Thobile Mhlahlo, who had been one of those targeted for what is euphemistically described as “re-deployment” survived and while he lost Roads and Transport he did get the major portfolio of Housing to go with Safety and Liaison.

Deputy-Speaker Gloria Barry gets Roads and Transport.

Housing has been separated from Local Government that is retained by Thoko Xasa who was also a target for re-deployment.

Phumulo Masualle becomes the most powerful MEC in the cabinet taking control of both Finance from Billy Nel, and Economic Development and Environmental Affairs that was held by Sogoni.

Health will now fall under Pemmy Majodina and Education goes to Mahlubandile Qwase replacing Nomsa Jajula and Johnny Makgato respectively.

Sogoni's cabinet: Who will the ANC pick?

The ANC will unveil the new Eastern Cape provincial cabinet at lunchtime tomorrow with the major focus on who will take over Housing and Local Government from Thoko Xasa and whether these two departments will be split.

New premier Mbulelo Sogoni acknowledged earlier today that the possibility of creating separate departments was under consideration and the name of outspoken the former mayor of Buffalo City Lulamile Nazo has emerged as a contender for Local Government.

That would leave Housing with which ANC provincial chairman Stone Sizani who was MEC for Education between 1999 and 2002 and the former CEO of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation Mcebisi Jonas have been linked.

Nazo has also been named as a possible deputy-speaker, succeeding Gloria Barry who is tipped to take over Roads and Transport from Thobile Mhlahlo.

New Premier takes the helm on Thursday

New Eastern Cape Premier Mbulelo Sogoni (right, with his predecessor Nosimo Balindlela) will be sworn in at the Legislature on Thursday, the ANC confirmed today.

The new cabinet will be announced on Friday afternoon and there is still discussion on who will
take the Housing and Local Government portfolio currently held by Thoko Xasa.

The Eastern Cape Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) is to meet on Friday morning to finalise the matter that will see Finance MEC Billy Nel who was informed yesterday that he is to be axed replaced by Phumulo Masualle who will also succeed Sogoni as MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs.

Health MEC Nomsa Jajula will be replaced by Pemmy Majodina while Education MEC Johnny Makgato will make way for Mahlubandile Qwase.

• Full report in The Herald tomorrow

Sorry, we'll try harder next time, says MEC

Local Government and Traditional Affairs Thoko Xasa has apologised profusely to MPLs in the Bhisho Legislature for a report that was described as “an embarrassing cut and paste job”.

There was “no proof-reading of the report nor was verification of the report done. We apologise profusely for that,” she said, adding that the issues would be addressed “and we will try our best to do better with the 2006/07 report”.

Xasa was replying to the debate on the Consolidated Municipal Annual Performance Report for 2005/06 during which she acknowledged that she had sent the report to national minister Sydney Mufamadi and the National Council of Provinces, a report she accepted was “an embarrassment to the department”.

Xasa said other provincial departments had also experienced problems in drawing up the consolidated report while some like Mpumalanga had not even submitted reports.

She said it was not that easy “to get into municipalities” which complicated the issue. It was easier to intervene in some local authorities than others.

“We are also looking into the wasteful expenditure – the committee demanded this as two reports were compiled the first of which was rejected as being “riddled with errors” - and will report in due course on the steps we have taken.

We understand the situation in which we have placed this House”.

Earlier, ANC Mabandla Gogo delivered a stinging attack on the department of Local Government and Traditional Affairs on a consolidated municipal annual performance report saying that: “No homework was done and it was just done to meet the legislative requirements”.

And he said it was “amazing that the officials of the department were not present so that they could understand how we feel”.

Gogo also asked what steps MEC Thoko Xasa had taken against department officials when a copy of her policy speech had been leaked to The Herald and also found in a rubbish bin and also what action she would take against the officials responsible for a report that was “an embarrassing cut and paste job”.

Related Links: Eastern Cape MPLs embarassed over report
MEC slated for "cut-and-paste" job