Modise reluctantly replaced three provincial ministers on Wednesday with those preferred by the current ANC provincial executive committee (PEC), a structure headed by her political adversary provincial chairperson Supra Mahumapelo.
The province's education minister, Louisa Mabe, has been replaced by Wendy Matsemela, social development minister Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi makes way for Collen Maine – who has been serving the North West at the National Council of Provinces – while Manketse Tlhape takes over the reigns at local government after ANC deputy provincial chairperson China Dodovu's suspension from both the ANC and government.
Matsemela is making a comeback to the North West Cabinet after being reshuffled in 2010 from the finance portfolio. Tlhape was the PEC's favourite to become executive mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality after the 2011 local government elections, but factional battles saw Phaladi Saku being appointed in that position. Tlhape previously served as mayor of the Tswaing local municipality.
The remaining two ANC provincial officials Mahumapelo and deputy secretary Gordon Kegakilwe met fired provincial ministers and incoming ones at the party's Mphekwa House on Wednesday morning to communicate the reshuffle decision. They were joined by representatives of the ANC Veterans League's provincial leadership.
Political undertones
While the reshuffle is being sold as a necessary step to stabilise the provincial government, the action is marred with political undertones.
"Thandi was not supposed to change Cabinet in 2010 because she knew that the ANC provincial conference was scheduled to be held in two months," said a PEC member who preferred to remain anonymous.
"She deliberately put the PEC in a corner so that when we reshuffle they'll call it a purge. What she did was a political strategy to pre-empt the PEC."
Modise lost political power when she was defeated at the ANC Mangaung congress in December, where she contested to retain her deputy secretary general position. Once a member of the powerful ANC top six officials, she now does not serve on any ANC leadership structure.
In May last year Modise reshuffled her Cabinet and assured the province's citizens that this was done to "strengthen good governance, accelerate service delivery, sustain stability and uproot corruption".
Meanwhile, the ANC in the North West said the new ministers have "an impeccable track record as devoted activists and disciplined members of the ANC".
Acting provincial secretary Gordon Kegakilwe said the new ministers served with distinction in various capacities in government.
Kegakilwe said the party appreciated the reshuffled ministers' "discipline and willingness to serve the ANC at all levels".
"This reshuffle, will enhance the necessary political work of the ANC in North West to achieve the objectives of the programme of reconciliation, healing and organisational renewal," said Kegakilwe.