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The Executive Council of the Northern Cape is the cabinet of the executive branch of the provincial government in the South African province of the Northern Cape. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are appointed from among the members of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature by the Premier of the Northern Cape, an office held since the 2019 general election by Zamani Saul of the African National Congress (ANC).
On 11 May 2009, shortly after the 2009 general election, newly elected Premier Hazel Jenkins announced her new Executive Council. [1] The council remained in place under Grizelda Cjiekella, the Education MEC, who acted as Premier after Jenkins suffered a stroke while delivering her 2012 State of the Province Address.
| Post | Member | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of the Northern Cape | Hazel Jenkins | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism | John Block | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Health | Mxolisi Sokatsha | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Education | Grizelda Cjiekella | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Roads and Public Works | Dawid Rooi | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison | Patrick Mabilo | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development | Norman Shushu | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Environment and Nature Conservation | Sylvia Lucas | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs | Kenny Mmoiemang | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Social Services and Population | Alvin Botes | 2009 | 2013 |
| MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture | Pauline Williams | 2009 | 2013 |
In May 2013, Sylvia Lucas was sworn in as Northern Cape Premier after Hazel Jenkins formally resigned from the office. She retained Jenkins's Executive Council until 4 June 2013, when she announced a minor cabinet reshuffle, moving some MECs to new portfolios and appointing Tiny Chotelo and Mac Jack to fill vacancies created by her own election as Premier and the election of Kenny Mmoiemang as the Speaker of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature. [2] [3]
| Post | Member | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of the Northern Cape | Sylvia Lucas | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism | John Block | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Health | Mxolisi Sokatsha | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Education | Grizelda Cjiekella | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Roads and Public Works | Dawid Rooi | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison | Mac Jack | 2013 | 2014 |
| Patrick Mabilo | 2013 | 2013 | |
| MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development | Norman Shushu | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Environment and Nature Conservation | Patrick Mabilo | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs | Alvin Botes | 2013 | 2014 |
| Kenny Mmoiemang | 2013 | 2013 | |
| MEC for Social Development | Tiny Chotelo | 2013 | 2014 |
| MEC for Social Services and Population | Alvin Botes | 2013 | 2013 |
| MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture | Pauline Williams | 2013 | 2014 |
Lucas was elected to her first full term as Premier in the 2014 general election and she announced her new Executive Council on 30 May 2014. Although several MECs changed portfolios, only two from the previous term – Patrick Mabilo and Pauline Williams – were dropped entirely; Lebogang Motlhaping and Barbara Bartlett were appointed in their stead. [4] In late February 2016, Lucas announced a wide-ranging reshuffle in which only three MECs retained their original portfolios, although none were fired. Three vacancies had arisen due to the death of Education MEC Grizelda Cjiekella, the resignation of Finance MEC John Block, and the resignation of Public Works MEC Dawid Rooi; three new MECs – Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, Gift van Staden, and Pauline Williams (who had been an MEC until 2014) – were appointed in their stead. [5] [6]
On 10 May 2017, Lucas announced a controversial reshuffle, in which Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba and Mxolisi Sokatsha swopped portfolios, and, more significantly, Finance MEC Mac Jack and Transport MEC Pauline Williams were fired and replaced by Gail Parker and Alexandra Beukes respectively. [7] The Northern Cape branch of the ANC said that it had not been consulted about the reshuffle and responded with "absolute disgust", calling it "grossly irresponsible, reckless and self-serving" and alleging that it constituted an attempt by Lucas to influence the outcomes of a party elective conference scheduled for the next weekend. [8] The provincial party called for Lucas to reverse the reshuffle and the ANC National Executive Committee ultimately intervened to instruct her to do so; [9] on 1 June, Lucas announced that she would comply, meaning that Parker and Beukes would lose their new positions. [10]
In February 2018, Lucas announced another reshuffle, removing Alvin Botes and Lebogang Motlhaping from the Executive Council and appointing Bentley Vass and Fufe Makatong. Lucas said that her decision had been influenced by the ANC's decision to move Botes to the National Assembly and by the need to ensure that senior party officials were represented in the Executive Council; Vass and Makatong were the Northern Cape ANC's Deputy Provincial Chairperson and Provincial Treasurer respectively. [11]
| Post | Member | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of the Northern Cape | Sylvia Lucas | 2014 | 2019 |
| MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism | Mac Jack | 2017 | 2019 |
| Gail Parker | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Mac Jack | 2016 | 2017 | |
| John Block | 2014 | 2015 | |
| MEC for Health | Fufe Makatong | 2018 | 2019 |
| Lebogang Motlhaping | 2016 | 2018 | |
| Mac Jack | 2014 | 2016 | |
| MEC for Education | Barbara Bartlett | 2016 | 2019 |
| Grizelda Cjiekella | 2014 | 2015 | |
| MEC for Infrastructure and Public Works | Mxolisi Sokatsha | 2017 | 2019 |
| Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Mxolisi Sokatsha | 2016 | 2017 | |
| Dawid Rooi | 2014 | 2016 | |
| MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison | Lebogang Motlhaping | 2018 | 2019 |
| Pauline Williams | 2017 | 2018 | |
| Alexandra Beukes | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Pauline Williams | 2016 | 2017 | |
| Barbara Bartlett | 2014 | 2016 | |
| MEC for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development | Norman Shushu | 2014 | 2019 |
| MEC for Environment and Nature Conservation | Pauline Williams | 2018 | 2019 |
| Tiny Chotelo | 2014 | 2018 | |
| MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs | Bentley Vass | 2018 | 2019 |
| Alvin Botes | 2014 | 2018 | |
| MEC for Social Development | Gift van Staden | 2016 | 2019 |
| Mxolisi Sokatsha | 2014 | 2016 | |
| MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture | Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba | 2017 | 2019 |
| Mxolisi Sokatsha | 2017 | 2017 | |
| Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba | 2016 | 2017 | |
| Lebogang Motlhaping | 2014 | 2016 | |
On 29 May 2019, after the 2019 general election, newly elected Premier Zamani Saul announced his new Executive Council, which retained only three MECs from the previous administration and which merged the province's Agriculture and Land Reform portfolio with Environmental Affairs and Conservation. [12] [13] After Berenice Sinexve and Barbara Bartlett resigned, Saul announced his first reshuffle on 26 June 2020; all but two MECs changed portfolios, but none were fired. [14]
Education MEC Mac Jack died in August 2020 and was replaced by Zolile Monakali in September. [15] On 26 October 2022, Saul appointed Venus Blennies as MEC for Youth, Women, Disability, Communications and E-Government, a newly created portfolio located in the Office of the Premier. [16]
| Post | Member | Term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier of the Northern Cape | Zamani Saul | 2019 | Incumbent |
| MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism | Abraham Vosloo | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Maruping Lekwene | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Health | Maruping Lekwene | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Mase Manopole | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Education | Zolile Monakali | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Mac Jack | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Roads and Public Works | Fufe Makatong | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Abraham Vosloo | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison | Nomandla Bloem | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Nontobeko Vilakazi | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Land Reform, Agriculture and Nature Conservation and Environmental Affairs | Mase Manopole | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Nomandla Bloem | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs | Bentley Vass | 2019 | Incumbent |
| MEC for Social Development | Nontobeko Vilakazi | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Barbara Bartlett | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture | Desery Finies | 2020 | Incumbent |
| Berenice Sinexve | 2019 | 2020 | |
| MEC for Youth, Women, Disability, Communications and E-Government | Venus Blennies | 2022 | Incumbent |
Sylvia Elizabeth Lucas is the current Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces in the Republic of South Africa, after having taken office on 23 May 2019. From 2013 to 2019, she served as the 4th Premier of the Northern Cape Province. She was elected and inaugurated as the successor to Hazel Jenkins. Lucas briefly served as acting premier and before her appointment, as the MEC for Environmental Affairs in the Northern Cape Provincial Government.
Sylvia Nomandla Bloem is a South African politician who is the current Northern Cape MEC for Transport and Safety Liaison. She was appointed to the post in June 2020. She has been a member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since May 2019. From May 2019 to June 2020, she served as the Northern Cape MEC for Land Reform, Agriculture and Nature Conservation and Environmental Affairs. Bloem is a member of the African National Congress.
Maruping Matthews Lekwene is a South African politician serving as the Northern Cape MEC for Health since June 2020. He has been a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature for the African National Congress (ANC) since June 2014. He was the Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism from May 2019 until June 2020. Lekwene is also the provincial chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the ANC's deputy provincial secretary.
Nontobeko Eveline Vilakazi is a South African politician serving as the Northern Cape MEC for Social Development since June 2020. She has been a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since May 2019. From May 2019 to June 2020, she was the Northern Cape MEC for Transport and Safety Liaison. Vilakazi is a member of the African National Congress and the provincial secretary of the party's women's league.
Galerekwe Mase Manopole is a South African politician who has served as the Northern Cape MEC for Land Reform, Agriculture and Nature Conservation and Environmental Affairs since June 2020. She was the MEC for Health from May 2019 to June 2020. She joined the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in October 2017. From May 2014 to October 2017, she was a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces, representing the Northern Cape. Manopole is a member of the African National Congress.
Abraham Vosloo is a South African educator and politician from the Northern Cape serving as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism since June 2020. He has been a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since May 2019. He was the MEC for Roads and Public Works from May 2019 until June 2020. Vosloo was previously the Executive Mayor of the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. He is a member of the African National Congress (ANC).
Bentley Gavin Vass is a South African politician who has been the Northern Cape MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs since February 2018. He was sworn in as a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in October 2017. Vass is a member of the African National Congress and the party's deputy provincial chairperson.
Barbara Martha Bartlett is a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress, she has been serving as a permanent delegate to the National Council of Provinces since June 2020. From May 2014 to June 2020, Bartlett was a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature and a Member of the Executive Council in the provincial government.
McCollen Ntsikelelo Jack, known as Mac Jack, was a South African educator and politician. A member of the African National Congress, Jack was appointed to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in June 2013. He served as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Transport, Safety and Liaison from June 2013 until May 2014, when he was appointed the MEC for Health. Following a cabinet reshuffle in March 2016, he was appointed the MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism. Jack held the position until his appointment as MEC for Education in May 2019, despite him briefly being demoted from the Executive Council in May 2017.
Gift van Staden is a South African politician who serves as a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature for the African National Congress (ANC). He was the provincial MEC for Social Development from 2016 to 2019. Prior to serving in the legislature, he was the Executive Mayor of both the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality and the Khara Hais Local Municipality. He is a former business associate of John Block.
Alvin Botes is a South African African National Congress (ANC) politician from the Northern Cape who has been serving as the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation since May 2019. He became a Member of the National Assembly of South Africa in February 2018. He was the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Social Development from 2009 to 2013 and the MEC for Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs from 2013 to 2018. Botes served as a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature from 2009 to 2018.
Mxolisa Simon Sokatsha was a South African accountant, educator and politician. A member of the African National Congress, he was a Member of the Executive Council in the Northern Cape from 2009 to 2019 and a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature from 2003 to 2019. In 2019 he was elected to the South African National Assembly.
Lebogang James Motlhaping is a South African politician from the Northern Cape. He was the Member of the Executive Council for Transport, Safety and Liaison from 2018 to 2019, the MEC for Health from 2016 to 2018, and the MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture from 2014 to 2016. He was a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature from 2014 to 2019. Motlhaping is a member of the African National Congress.
Zolile Monakali is a South African educator and politician who has served as the Northern Cape MEC for Education since 16 September 2020. He was sworn in as a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature on 8 September. Prior to serving in the provincial government, he was the Executive Mayor of the Pixley ka Seme District Municipality. Monakali is a member of the African National Congress and the party's Pixley ka Seme regional chairperson.
Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba is a South African politician. She is the current chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in the National Assembly of South Africa and a Member of Parliament representing the African National Congress. Prior to serving in parliament, she was a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) in the Northern Cape provincial government.
Fufe Bohutsana Providence Makatong is a South African politician and the Northern Cape MEC for Roads and Public Works. She was appointed to the position on 26 June 2020. She has served as a member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature since 12 June 2020, and previously from 2014 to 2019. Between 2018 and 2019, she was the MEC for Health. Makatong is the treasurer of the provincial African National Congress structure.
Pauline Jeanette Williams is a retired South African politician. A member of the African National Congress, she was elected to the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature in 2004. In 2009, she was appointed as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Sport, Arts and Culture. She left the legislature in 2014, only for her to return in 2015. She was then made MEC for Transport, Liaison and Safety in 2016. Williams was briefly out of the post in May 2017. In February 2018, she was made the MEC for Environmental Affairs. Williams left the legislature again in 2019.
The Executive Council of the Eastern Cape is the cabinet of the executive branch of the provincial government in the South African province of the Eastern Cape. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are appointed from among the members of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature by the Premier of the Eastern Cape, an office held since the 2019 general election by Oscar Mabuyane of the African National Congress (ANC).
Gail Denise Parker is a South African politician and public servant who represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature from 2014 to 2019. During that time, she served briefly as the Northern Cape's Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism from May to June 2017: she was appointed in a controversial cabinet reshuffle which the ANC later obliged Premier Sylvia Lucas to reverse. Parker trained as a teacher and entered politics through the South African Democratic Teachers Union.
Dawid Rooi is a South African politician and former trade unionist who represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature from 1999 to 2017. During that time, he served continuously in the Northern Cape Executive Council from 2009 to 2016: he was the Northern Cape's Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Roads and Public Works from 2009 to 2014 and MEC for Infrastructure and Public Works from 2014 to 2016. A former mineworker, Rooi rose to political prominence through the National Union of Mineworkers.
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