Executive Council of Limpopo

The Executive Council of Limpopo is the cabinet of the executive branch of the provincial government in the South African province of Limpopo. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are appointed from among the members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature by the Premier of Limpopo, an office held since June 2023 by Phophi Ramathuba.

Mathale premiership: 2009–2013

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Cassel Mathale was elected to his first full term as Premier in the 2009 general election and on 6 May 2009 announced his new Executive Council, in which seven of ten MECs were new to the provincial cabinet.[1] In August 2009, Public Works MEC Pandelani Ramagoma died and was replaced by George Phadagi.[2] However, Phadagi and others were moved to new portfolios on 28 January 2011, when a cabinet reshuffle was announced.[3] A subsequent reshuffle was announced on 13 March 2012 and saw four ministers exit the Executive Council: Phadagi, Dikeledi Magadzi, and Joyce Mashamba were fired, while Soviet Lekganyane resigned pursuant to his election as Provincial Secretary of the Limpopo ANC.[4]

Limpopo Executive Council 2009–2013
Post Member Term Party
Premier of Limpopo Cassel Mathale 2009 2013 ANC
MEC for Treasury David Masondo 2011 2013 ANC
Saad Cachalia 2009 2011 ANC
MEC for Health and Social Development Norman Mabasa 2012 2013 ANC
Dikeledi Magadzi 2011 2012 ANC
Miriam Segabutla 2009 2011 ANC
MEC for Education Dickson Masemola 2009 2013 ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Pinky Kekana 2012 2013 ANC
Pitsi Moloto 2009 2012 ANC
MEC for Agriculture Jacob Marule 2012 2013 ANC
Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba 2009 2012 ANC
MEC for Safety and Security Florence Dzombere 2012 2013 ANC
George Phadagi 2011 2012 ANC
Dikeledi Magadzi 2009 2011 ANC
MEC for Public Works Thabitha Mohlala 2011 2013 ANC
George Phadagi 2009 2011 ANC
Pandelani Ramagoma 2009 2009 ANC
MEC for Roads and Transport Pitsi Moloto 2012 2013 ANC
Pinky Kekana 2009 2012 ANC
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Clifford Motsepe 2012 2013 ANC
MEC for Local Government and Housing Soviet Lekganyane 2009 2012 ANC
MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba 2012 2013 ANC
Joyce Mashamba 2009 2012 ANC

Mathabatha premiership

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First term: 2013–2014

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Stan Mathabatha was elected Premier in July 2013 after the ANC asked Mathale resign. On 19 July 2013, he announced the composition of his first Executive Council, firing eight of Mathale's ten MECs; only Dickson Masemola and Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba retained their spots in the cabinet, although they were moved to new portfolios.[5]

Limpopo Executive Council 2013–2014
Post Member Term Party
Premier of Limpopo Stan Mathabatha 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Treasury Rudolph Phala 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Health Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Education Dikeledi Magadzi 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Economic Development Seaparo Sekoati 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Agriculture Rosina Semenya 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Human Settlements Ishmael Kgetjepe 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Roads and Transport Lehlogonolo Masoga 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Public Works Dickson Masemola 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Safety and Security Joyce Mashamba 2013 2014 ANC
MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Mirriam Ramadwa 2013 2014 ANC

Second term: 2014–2019

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In the 2014 general election, Mathabatha was elected to a full term as Premier and announced his new Executive Council, which disbanded the former roads and transport portfolio, merging roads with safety and liaison and roads with public works.[6] On 27 May 2015, he announced a reshuffle affecting only three portfolios (education, health, and treasury); a vacancy had arisen after the death of Education MEC Thembisile Nwedamutswu in January 2015, and Rudolph Phala was the only MEC to be fired.[7] Another three-portfolio reshuffle was announced on 15 September 2016, two months after the death of Agriculture MEC Joy Matshoge.[8]

Mathabatha effected a more comprehensive reshuffle in October 2017 ahead of the ANC's 54th National Conference; his critics, including in the provincial ANC Youth League, labelled the reshuffle a purge of supporters of national President Jacob Zuma because it entailed demotions for Zuma loyalists, such as Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana and Makoma Makhurupetje.[9] Finally, in July 2018, Mathabatha made two appointments to fill vacancies created by the death of Agriculture MEC Joyce Mashamba and the resignation of Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Onicca Moloi.[10]

Limpopo Executive Council 2014–2019
Post Member Term Party
Premier of Limpopo Stan Mathabatha 2014 2019 ANC
MEC for Treasury Rob Tooley 2015 2019 ANC
Rudolph Phala 2014 2015 ANC
MEC for Health Phophi Ramathuba 2015 2019 ANC
Ishmael Kgetjepe 2014 2015 ANC
MEC for Education Ishmael Kgetjepe 2015 2019 ANC
Thembisile Nwedamutswu 2014 2015 ANC
MEC for Economic Development Seaparo Sekoati 2014 2019 ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Basikopo Makamu 2018 2019 ANC
Joyce Mashamba 2017 2018 ANC
Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana 2016 2017 ANC
Joy Matshoge 2014 2016 ANC
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Nandi Ndalane 2017 2019 ANC
Jerry Ndou 2014 2017 ANC
MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison Makoma Makhurupetje 2017 2019 ANC
Nandi Ndalane 2016 2017 ANC
Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana 2014 2016 ANC
MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Jerry Ndou 2017 2019 ANC
Makoma Makhurupetje 2014 2017 ANC
MEC for Social Development and Welfare Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana 2017 2019 ANC
Joyce Mashamba 2014 2017 ANC
MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Thandi Moraka 2018 2019 ANC
Onicca Moloi 2016 2018 ANC
Nandi Ndalane 2014 2016 ANC

Third term: 2019–2024

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On 22 May 2019, shortly after he was re-elected in the 2019 general election, Premier Mathabatha announced his new Executive Council, with wide-ranging changes from the cabinet installed in his previous term.[11][12] On 23 March 2020, he announced his first second-term reshuffle, a minor reshuffle affecting two departments in which one MEC, Monicca Mochadi, was fired.[13]

In June 2022, Mathabatha was re-elected to a third term as ANC Provincial Chairperson in a hotly contested party elective conference. Although he said after the conference that internal party competition would not lead him to reshuffle his executive, he announced a reshuffle at the end of the same month.[14] In the reshuffle, Public Works MEC Dickson Masemola swapped portfolios with Social Development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale, while Education MEC Polly Boshielo swapped portfolios with Community Safety MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya. This was perceived as a demotion for Masemola and Boshielo and was linked to the ANC elective conference, at which Masemola had run against Mathabatha.[14] Then, in October 2022, Mathabatha announced a wider-ranging reshuffle, affecting five departments, in which he fired Masemola and Boshielo outright; he also sacked the MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Thandi Moraka, who, like Masemola and Boshielo, had failed to gain re-election to the ANC Provincial Executive Committee at the party conference in June.[15]

Limpopo Executive Council 2019–2022
Post Member Term Party
Premier of Limpopo Stan Mathabatha 2019 2024 ANC
MEC for Treasury Seaparo Sekoati 2019 2024 ANC
MEC for Health Phophi Ramathuba 2019 2024 ANC
MEC for Education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya 2022 2024 ANC
Polly Boshielo 2019 2022 ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Rodgers Monama 2022 2024 ANC
Thabo Mokone 2019 2022 ANC
MEC for Transport and Community Safety Florence Radzilani 2022 2024 ANC
Polly Boshielo 2022 2022 ANC
Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya 2020 2022 ANC
Dickson Masemola 2019 2020 ANC
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Nkakareng Rakgoale 2022 2024 ANC
Dickson Masemola 2020 2022 ANC
Monicca Mochadi 2019 2020 ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Thabo Mokone 2022 2024 ANC
Nandi Ndalane 2019 2022 ANC
MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Basikopo Makamu 2019 2024 ANC
MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana 2022 2024 ANC
Thandi Moraka 2019 2022 ANC
MEC for Social Development Nandi Ndalane 2022 2024 ANC
Dickson Masemola 2022 2022 ANC
Nkakareng Rakgoale 2019 2022 ANC

Ramathuba premiership: 2024–present

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Following the 2024 general election, the MEC for Health, Phophi Ramathuba, was elected to succeed Mathabatha as Premier of Limpopo. She named her executive council on 18 June 2024 and the new MECs were sworn in two days later on 20 June.[16][17]

Limpopo Executive Council 2024–present
Post Member Term Party
Premier of Limpopo Phophi Ramathuba 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Tshitereke Matibe 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Education Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Health Dieketseng Masesi Mashego 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs Basikopo Makamu 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure Sebataolo Rachoene 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Sport, Arts & Culture Jerry Maseko 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Transport and Community Safety Violet Mathye 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Social Development Florence Radzilani 2024 Incumbent ANC
MEC for Provincial Treasury Kgabo Mahoai 2024 Incumbent ANC

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Limpopo's newly elected premier announces his Exco". South African Government News Agency. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Appointment of the MEC for Public Works | South African Government". South African Government. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Cassel Mathale reshuffles Limpopo cabinet". Politicsweb. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Mathale shakes up Limpopo Cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  5. ^ "New premier Stan Mathabatha fires 8 of 10 Limpopo MECs". News24. 19 July 2013. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Limpopo's Dickson Masemola runs out of lives". News24. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Premier announces 3 changes to cabinet". Polokwane Observer. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Limpopo cabinet reshuffled". eNCA. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  9. ^ Dube, Mpho (27 October 2017). "Mathabatha angers Zuma's supporters over Limpopo cabinet reshuffle". City Press. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  10. ^ Makhafola, Getrude (27 July 2018). "Limpopo ANC appoints new members to the executive council". IOL. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Women dominate Stanley Mathabatha's cabinet". Sowetan. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Lim's new look cabinet". Polokwane Observer. 22 May 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Limpopo premier Mathabatha shuffles provincial cabinet, axes Monica Mochadi". The Citizen. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  14. ^ a b Sadike, Mashudu (30 June 2022). "Premier Stan Mathabatha demotes two MECs in Limpopo cabinet reshuffle". IOL. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  15. ^ Sadike, Mashudu (7 October 2022). "Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha fires three MECs from executive committee". IOL. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  16. ^ "Premier Phophi Ramathuba on appointment of Limpopo Executive Council | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
  17. ^ "Limpopo swears in newly appointed Members of Executive Council, 20 Jun | South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 3 July 2024.