New North West premier Maureen Modiselle announced her provincial Cabinet in Mafikeng on Friday morning, and 60% of the ministers are women.
Louisa Mabe, whose name was proposed by the ANC Women’s League for premier, will head the finance portfolio, the position that Modiselle vacated. Former Klerksdorp councillor Grace Pampiri has been appointed minister for sports, arts and culture while housing will be under the leadership of Desbo Sefanyetso, a provincial executive member of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union.
Health and Social Development goes to Rebecca Kasienyane, the ANC’s provincial treasurer. The agriculture portfolio will be headed up by former ANC chief whip in the North West, Boitumelo Tshwene. The portfolio now includes conservation, environment and rural development.
Only two provincial ministers survived from Edna Molewa’s administration — OJ Tselapedi stays in education and former housing and local government minister Howard Yawa moves to public safety.
The other new ministers are Mahlakeng Mahlakeng for public works, roads and transport and Gordon Kegakilwe for local government and traditional affairs. Mahlakeng is the former chairperson of the legislature’s housing committee, while Kegakilwe was the municipal manager of Kagisano near Vryburg.
Those who did not make the cut include former transport minister Phenye Vilakazi, former provincial minister Nomonde Rasmeni, sports, arts and culture minister Ndleleni Duma, Jerry Thibedi who headed housing, and Darkey Africa who was provincial minister for economic development and tourism and also acted in the agriculture portfolio.
The announcement of the North West cabinet was moved forward after the unexpected resignation of former premier Edna Molewa. The ANC in the province had been expecting Molewa to stay on until Modiselle was inaugurated, an event that was planned for Sunday afternoon.