The Inside Story: Why Was ‘Sputla’ Ramokgopa Axed?

Just weeks before his axing as MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment on Friday, Dr Kgosientsho ‘Sputla’ Ramokgopa was the subject of heated correspondence in which he was accused of interfering in the affairs of the Gauteng Gambling Board.

Premier David Makhura announced in a tweet Friday that Ramokgopa had ‘resigned’ and would be replaced by Morakane Mosupyoe, who had served as speaker of the Tshwane Metro during Ramokgopa’s tenure as mayor.

Makhura’s hand was forced because of an ANC resolution adopted at the party’s 54th national conference in 2017, which states that in the case where a province appoints a male premier, his cabinet should then be constituted as 60% women and 40% men.

But after his re-election in May, and for for reasons best known to Makhura, he decided to go against his party’s conference resolution and appointed his cabinet with 50% men and 50%