The appointments for the country’s nine Health MECs include five new ones while four have been reappointed, reports Spotlight – and with none of them being a qualified health professional.
In Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, ANC-appointed MECs have been retained in the portfolios, while Mpumalanga and Northern Cape have also retained their MECs: the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, the North West, and Western Cape all have new MECs. Six of the appointments are women.
Free State
Monyatso Viceroy Mahlatsi has replaced Nokwanje Selina “Mathabo” Leeto who only served in the province’s health MEC position for a year. Mahlatsi was the provincial secretary for Cosatu from 2014 – a position from which he has now resigned. Last week, Spotlight reported on Mahlatsi’s first act as MEC, which was to accompany the Premier and the rest of the executive council on an oversight visit to the Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein, followed by National District Hospital.
According to the provincial Health Department, the new MEC is not related to its Head of Department Godfrey Mahlatsi.
Gauteng
Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko retained her position as the MEC for Health in Gauteng. She was appointed to this position in 2022, a decision that was questioned because of her lack of experience in the health sector. Before this, she was the MEC for Finance in the province, after serving only one day as the MEC for Education.
KwaZulu-Natal
Nomagugu Simelane remains the MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal. She was appointed in 2019 and had previously served as the spokesperson for the ANC in the province. Simelane is a lawyer.
Limpopo
Dieketseng Masesi Mashego took over the position of MEC for Health from Dr Phophi Ramathuba, who is now Premier of the province. Mashego is part of the ANC Women’s League and was previously speaker in the Elias Motsoaledi local municipality.
Her appointment sparked concern from the DA because of her not having any health background or experience. In response to Spotlight’s questions, Ndavhe Ramakuela, spokesperson for the Premier, said “such appointments, unlike those of Heads of Department, do not follow a career or requisite qualifications, path but are based on ability to lead and carry out duties designated for such an individual”.
Mpumalanga
Sasekani Manzini retained her position as MEC for Health, which she has held since 2018. Her reappointment has also attracted criticism from the DA in the province, which opposed her remaining in this position, saying the province’s health facilities are in a “downward spiral” and retaining Manzini might lead to the department’s collapse.
Northern Cape
Maruping Lekwene has retained his position as Health MEC, having served in this post since 2020. He was previously MEC for Finance, Economic Development & Tourism.
North West
Jonas Sello Lehari replaced Madoda Sambatha who had been in the position since 2018. Lehari was the mayor of Moretele Local Municipality before serving as North West MEC for Education & Sports Development and thereafter as MEC for Community Safety & Transport Management.
Western Cape
Mireille Wenger has replaced Dr Nomafrench Mbombo as Health MEC who had been in the job since 2015. Before that, Wenger had served as the Western Cape MEC for Finance & Economic Opportunities since 2022.
Wenger does have some health experience. In 2020, she was elected as the chairperson for the province’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Covid-19 and served in this position until the committee was disbanded in 2022. She also spent five years on the Western Cape Provincial Parliaments’ Health & Wellness Standing Committee.
Eastern Cape
As reported in MedicalBrief last week, Ntandokazi Capa has replaced Nomakhosazana Meth in the Eastern Cape – her appointment being welcomed by Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa, but with the DA and EFF expressing concerns over her lack of experience.
Committee boss
Meanwhile, a total of 16 new committee chairpersons were elected by Parliament this week, reports TimesLIVE, among them former health Deputy Minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, who is back chairing the Health portfolio committee.
The committees hold members of the executive to account, draft laws and conduct public participation in law-making.
Spotlight article – Of South Africa’s nine health MECs, five are new (Creative Commons Licence)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
New Eastern Cape Health MEC vows to fix distressed hospitals
KZN Health MEC sued for defamation
Mpumalanga Health underspends budget despite chronic staff shortages