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% women.
Pressure has been mounting on Makhura, including from the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), to abide by the party’s 54th Conference resolution.
However, It’s has since emerged that the anti-Makhura faction in the Gauteng ANC put pressure on Makhura to fire Ramokgopa after he targeted senior government officials aligned to his provincial cabinet colleague and MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile.
Shortly after he was appointed in May, Ramokgopa fired Leah Manenze, Gauteng Enterprise Propeller CEO and the organisation’s COO, Reletta Lebelo.
The pair were appointed by Maile when he was still Economic Development MEC. Ramokgopa has also been accused of meddling in the affairs of the Gauteng Gambling Board (GGB), which also fell under his department.
In a letter to Ramokgopa dated 10 September the Board’s chairperson Mxolisi Zwane, charged that he was interfering in the board’s legislative mandate.
He accused Ramokgopa of interfering with the board’s duty to appoint personnel as stipulated by law, while meddling in licence hearings, relocations and amendments.
“Upon reflecting and deliberating on the issues the board resolved that our concerns, dissatisfaction and displeasure be communicated to the MEC [Ramokgopa] and his office. Further reference is made to an e-mail communication from the MEC’s office dated 27 August 2019 which instructs the CEO of GGB to act in a manner which is contrary to a board’s resolution, the copy is attached for ease of reference, the letter signed by Zwane stated.
It continued: “Reference is further made to the conduct and the tone of the meeting on the 29th August 2019. As a board, we found the process of being interrogated and questioned about decision and the outcome of the Marco Polo matter/application bordering on the MEC’s attempt to pushing the board to review its decision and/or alter it which is irregular and unpleasant.”
“The decision on the matter was taken on the 29 July 2019 and communicated to the applicants on 12 August 2019 and there was no way the board could alter same,” Zwane said in the letter.
“The board is herewith concerned that situations of this nature have a tendency of having an impact on how the board discharges its fudiciary duties as enshrined in the enabling legislation, ‘GGA’ and other pieces of legislation applicable thereto.”
While it is the prerogative of Makhura as premier to choose his own cabinet, several under currents determine each appointment.
He must strike a balance between the different factions at play within the party, while at the same time bringing in skilled cadres and rewarding his close political allies.
The ANC Gauteng said it welcomed Mosupyoe’s appointment saying it will “add to the already diverse and highly competent team which has been given a mandate of Growing Gauteng Together.”
Makhura said a new role for Ramokgopa will be announced soon.