Uncertainty over the position of Western Cape public works minister Mcebisi Skwatsha continued on Friday, the day he was supposed to — according to his premier — quit the post.
Provincial African National Congress chairperson James Ngculu said on Friday afternoon that as far as he is aware, Skwatsha is still a provincial minister.
But according to Premier Ebrahim Rasool’s office, Skwatsha is out.
”The premier will announce the new MEC during the course of next week, and if there’s going to be any cabinet reshuffle,” said an official in Rasool’s office.
Skwatsha’s position has become the focus of a power struggle between Rasool and Ngculu, who recently ousted the premier as head of the party in the province.
Skwatsha, an Ngculu ally, is also the ANC’s provincial secretary, and he has reportedly agreed to step down in line with the ANC national’s position that provincial secretaries should not also be members of the provincial government.
However, the timing of his departure has become an issue, with Rasool maintaining he wants a new-look executive ”up and running” when the politicians return from recess on Monday, and Ngculu saying the Friday ”deadline” is impractical.
The confusion may be cleared up after a meeting between Rasool, Ngculu and the rest of the ANC’s ”top five” provincial officials at Rasool’s office on Saturday morning.
The phone at Skwatsha’s provincial government office went unanswered on Friday afternoon, as did the cellphones of his personal assistant and that of Skwatsha himself. — Sapa