Image cred: South AAfrican Government
Monday | September 5, 2022
The Premier of Gauteng province David Makhura is contemplating life after seven years of tenure in that public office.
On Sunday, the newly elected African National Congress (ANC) Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) led by Panyaza Lesufi announced that change in the provincial government is in progress.
Makhura confirmed the developments pronounced by the PEC. He said he is not resigning from the position he held since 2014. Instead, he requested a smooth transition in his handing over authority to the incoming administration.
Further, Makhura confirmed that he was not pushed as he supported the election and the changes that the PEC is bringing in.
Lesufi affirmed that Premier Makhura was not hounded out of his position. Rather, the PEC felt change was needed given the loss of municipalities and the deterioration of service delivery in Gauteng since the local government elections held in 2021.
During a media briefing organised to clarify the changes to the government of Gauteng, Makhura said he appointed Panyaza Lesufi as the caretaker Premier as he will be touring Europe.
Panyaza Lesufi, MEC in Gauteng (Image cred: People’s Assembly)
Lesufi is the current Member of the Executive Committee responsible for basic education in Gauteng.
David Makhura emphasized that there are agreements that need to be signed with Germany relating to securing green energy and agriculture related projects with the Netherlands.
Except to say that he will continue to support his party’s transformational agenda in Gauteng, there was no clarity of where the 54-year-old Makhura is headed. In the meantime, he is still the official incumbent as Gauteng Premier.
True to its leadership structures and traditions, ANC will be holding its elective conference held every five year to elect its new National Executive Committee. Lesufi stressed that it will be hosted in Gauteng (as it was in 2017).