Just 4 months into his new position, Gauteng Department of Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment MEC Dr. Kgosientso Ramokgopa had to vacate his seat.
After the May elections, the ANC NEC resolved that provinces with a male premier should have a 60 per cent of the female executive.
However, Gauteng Premier David Makhura had a 50/50 representation but Luthuli House said he should drop one male in his cabinet in favour of a woman.
Last week, the ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule announced that the replacement will happen within a few days.
News of Ramokgopa’s resignation started spreading early on Friday morning and just after lunchtime, Makhura released a statement saying Morakane Mosupyoe will take over as the MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment.
The ANC Gauteng Province said it welcomes the announcement on the changes to the composition of the Executive Council.
“The appointment of Comrade Morakane Mosupyoe as the MEC for the Department of Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment will add to the already diverse and highly competent team which has been given a mandate of Growing Gauteng Together.
“Comrade Mosupyoe is a member of the Provincial Executive Committee and also serves on the Provincial Working Committee of the ANC in Gauteng.
“Until today she served as the Chairperson of the Social Development Portfolio Committee at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature,” said ANC Gauteng Provincial Secretary Jacob Khawe.
Mosupyoe previously served as a councillor in the City of Tshwane from 2006 – 2016. During this period, she also served as the MMC for Health and Social Development. She also formed part of the Social and Economic cluster over the same period. In 2011 she became the first female speaker of the City of Tshwane until 2016 when the term ended.
Khawe said that the PEC reiterates its previously stated position that ANC comrades deployed in any capacity whether it be in the executive or elsewhere need to remain steadfastly focused on implementing the ANC manifesto in line with the five-year manifesto implementation plan adopted by the PEC Lekgotla in June 2019.
“We have no doubt that Comrade Mosupyoe will hit the ground running in her new deployment, and once more congratulate her on her appointment. We believe that Comrade Dr. Kgosientso Ramokgopa has laid a solid foundation during his deployment and would continue to use his skills and talent to help grow our province and the country at large.”
Makhura also thanked the outgoing Ramokgopa for his services and said that he was confident Masupyoe “will build on the solid foundation laid by Ramokgopa towards the realization of our vision of growing the economy of our province. She will continue with the process of creating an integrated multi-tier special Economic Zones.”
