As expected, Mokonyane announced a complete overhaul of her cabinet yesterday. Only three members - finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe, agriculture MEC Nandi sale ugg bootsMayathula-Khoza and education head Barbara Creecy - have evaded the axe. Arguably the biggest surprise was the appointment of former Ekurhuleni mayor Ntombi Mekgwe as MEC for health and social development. She replaces Qedani Mahlangu, who has been moved to economic development, replacing Firoz Cachalia. Cachalia, who has been shifted to the premier's office's newly formed planning commission, put the brakes on multibillion -rand motor-sport contracts that the auditor-general had slammed as "wasteful". The contracts were signed when national Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile was in Cachalia's position. Mahlangu was not available for comment yesterday, but DA health spokesman Jack Bloom said he believed she was shifted "because she made too many enemies with her brave cancellation of fishy contracts". discount ugg boots Mahlangu reportedly cancelled deals worth R3-billion, including the R273-million 3P Consulting tender and a R609-million smartcard contract,. Bloom also said that Mekgwe's appointment was "bad news for this highly stressed department" because she was "not up to the job". But ANC Gauteng spokesman Dumisa Ntuli hit back, saying: "Comrade Ntombi is a guileless and witty leader. She has been tested and very much competent and acerbic. She has done a very good job at Ekurhuleni. She will be equal to the task." Khabisi Mosunkutu and Nelisiwe Moerane were stripped of their portfolios, community safety, and sports, respectively, and relegated to the benches of the provincial legislature. Mokonyane denied allegations that the changes - which ANC Gauteng's top executive recommended to her in a governance review handed to her last week - were imposed on her. Classic ugg boots outlet She insisted that moving under-performing MECs to other portfolios was not moving "dead furniture" around. Those who will be sworn in today include Lebogang Maile, the ANC Youth League's Gauteng chairman, who has been appointed MEC for sports, arts and culture. Another surprise appointment is that of experienced parliamentarian Ismail Vadi, chairman of the parliamentary portfolio committee on communications, who will resign when he returns from overseas next week to take up the post of roads and transport head. ugg outlet online Former transport MEC Bheki Nkosi was shifted to infrastructure development. Humphrey Mmemezi, deputy secretary of the ANC in Gauteng, takes over from Kgaogelo Lekgoro as MEC for local government and housing. Mokonyane moved Lekgoro to her office as her political advisor. Lyndall Shope-Mafole, the COPE caucus leader in the provincial legislature, welcomed Mokonyane's reshuffle, saying that though it was sad to see the "hard-working" Mahlangu moved from her health portfolio, her party would give the incoming Mekgwe "the benefit of the doubt". Mokonyane defended Mekgwe's appointment, saying she had a good leadership track record in local government. ugg boots 2010
11/08/2010
