July 08,2024

New Provincial Cabinets Appointed with Major Changes in Health MECs Across South Africa

Over the past few weeks, new provincial cabinets have been appointed by premiers across South Africa's nine provinces. This includes the announcement of new Members of the Executive Council (MECs) for health, with five new appointees and four reappointments.

In the two most populous provinces, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, ANC-appointed MECs have retained their health portfolios despite the party receiving less than 40% of the provincial vote. Mpumalanga and the North West have also retained their MECs, while the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo, Northern Cape, and Western Cape have new health MECs.

Six of the nine health MECs are women, though none of them are qualified health professionals. Below is a province-by-province breakdown of the health MECs, with more in-depth coverage of some of the new appointees to follow later.

Eastern Cape

Ntandokazi Capa has replaced Nomakhosazana Meth, who is now the Minister of Employment and Labour. Capa, the chairperson of the ANC Women's League in the province, previously served as speaker of the OR Tambo District Municipality and was the first female mayor of the Ingquza Hill Municipality. Her appointment has been welcomed by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa but raised concerns from the DA and EFF due to her lack of experience.

Free State

Monyatso Viceroy Mahlatsi has taken over from Nokwanje Selina "Mathabo" Leeto, who served as health MEC for just a year. Mahlatsi was previously Cosatu's provincial secretary since 2014. His first act as MEC was to conduct oversight visits to Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital and the National District Hospital.

Gauteng

Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has retained her position as health MEC, which she has held since 2022. Her appointment was initially questioned due to her lack of experience in the health sector, having previously served as finance MEC and briefly as education MEC.

KwaZulu-Natal

Nomagugu Simelane remains the health MEC, a position she has held since 2019. Prior to this role, she served as the ANC spokesperson in the province and is a lawyer by profession.

Limpopo

Dieketseng Masesi Mashego has replaced Dr. Phophi Ramathuba, who is now the province's premier. Mashego, a member of the ANC Women's League, was previously the speaker of the Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality. Her lack of health background has sparked concern from the DA.

Mpumalanga

Sasekani Manzini continues as health MEC, a position she has held since 2018. The DA has opposed her reappointment, citing the declining state of the province's health facilities.

Northern Cape

Maruping Lekwene retains his position as health MEC, which he has held since 2020. Before this, he served as the province's finance, economic development, and tourism MEC.

North West

Jonas Sello Lehari has replaced Madoda Sambatha as health MEC. Lehari previously served as the mayor of the Moretele Local Municipality and held various MEC positions in education, sports development, community safety, and transport management.

Western Cape

Mireille Wenger has taken over from Dr. Nomafrench Mbombo as health MEC. Wenger was previously the finance and economic opportunities MEC since 2022.