Executive Council of Gauteng

The Executive Council of Gauteng is the cabinet of the executive branch of the provincial government in the South African province of Gauteng. The Members of the Executive Council (MECs) are appointed from among the members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature by the Premier of Gauteng, an office held since October 2022 by Panyaza Lesufi.

Sexwale and Motshekga premierships: 1994–1999

The first Premier of Gauteng, Tokyo Sexwale, was elected to office in the 1994 general election and appointed Gauteng's inaugural Executive Council, with representation for the opposition National Party (NP) in line with the constitutional requirement to form a Government of National Unity.^[1] Premier Mathole Motshekga, who took office after Sexwale's resignation in 1998, largely preserved Sexwale's Executive Council.

Partial Gauteng Executive Council 1994–1999

Post	Member	Term		Party	Ref.
Premier of Gauteng	Mathole Motshekga	1998	1999	ANC
	Tokyo Sexwale	1994	1998	ANC
MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs	Jabu Moleketi	1994	1999	ANC	[2]
MEC for Health	Mondli Gungubele	1997	1999	ANC	[3]
	Amos Masondo	1994	1997	ANC	[4]
MEC for Education	Mary Metcalfe	1994	1999	ANC	[5][6]
MEC for Housing	Dan Mofokeng	1994	1999	ANC	[7]
MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment	Nomvula Mokonyane	1996	1999	ANC	[8]
	John Mavuso	1994	1996	NP	[1]
MEC for Safety and Security	Paul Mashatile	1998	1999	ANC	[9]
	Jessie Duarte	1994	1998	ANC	[9]
MEC for Public Works and Transport	Joyce Kgoali	1998	1999	ANC	[10]
	Paul Mashatile	1996	1998	ANC	[11]
	Olaus van Zyl	1994		NP	[1]
MEC for Development Planning and Local Government	Sicelo Shiceka	1994	1999	ANC	[12]
MEC for Social Welfare	Sakkie Blanché	1994		NP	[1]
MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture	Peter Skosana	1994		ANC	[1]

Shilowa premiership

First term: 1999–2004

In June 1999, pursuant to the 1999 general election, newly elected Premier Mbhazima Shilowa announced his new Executive Council, the composition of which was controversial in the provincial ANC – most of the members, for example, were members of the South African Communist Party.^[13]

Gauteng Executive Council 1999–2004

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	Mbhazima Shilowa	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs	Jabu Moleketi	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Health	Gwen Ramokgopa	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Education	Ignatius Jacobs	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Housing	Paul Mashatile	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and Environment and Land Affairs	Mary Metcalfe	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Sports and Recreation	Mondli Gungubele	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Safety and Community Liaison	Nomvula Mokonyane	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Transport and Public Works	Khabisi Mosunkutu	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Development Planning and Local Government	Trevor Fowler	1999	2004	ANC
MEC for Social Services and Population Development	Angie Motshekga	2000	2004	ANC

Second term: 2004–2008

On 29 April 2004, following the 2004 general election, the Gauteng Executive Council, still led by Shilowa, was sworn in to office.^[14] On 23 March 2006, Shilowa announced a minor reshuffle, appointing Kgaogelo Lekgoro as Social Development MEC – a position vacated by Bob Mabaso earlier that year amid a sexual harassment scandal – and replacing Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa with Brian Hlongwa.^[15]

Gauteng Executive Council 2004–2008

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	Mbhazima Shilowa	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs	Paul Mashatile	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Health	Brian Hlongwa	2006	2008	ANC
	Gwen Ramokgopa	2004	2006	ANC
MEC for Education	Angie Motshekga	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and the Environment	Khabisi Mosunkutu	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Housing	Nomvula Mokonyane	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works	Ignatius Jacobs	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Sport, Art, Culture and Recreation	Barbara Creecy	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Community Safety	Firoz Cachalia	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Local Government	Qedani Mahlangu	2004	2008	ANC
MEC for Social Development	Kgaogelo Lekgoro	2006	2008	ANC
	Bob Mabaso	2004	2006	ANC

Mashatile premiership: 2008–2009

Paul Mashatile was elected Premier in October 2008 when the incumbent Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa, resigned in order to defect from the governing African National Congress (ANC) to the opposition Congress of the People. Mashatile entirely preserved the composition of Shilowa's Executive Council, except that he appointed Mandla Nkomfe to replace himself as MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs.^[16]

Gauteng Executive Council 2008–2009

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	Paul Mashatile	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs	Mandla Nkomfe	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Health	Brian Hlongwa	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Education	Angie Motshekga	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Agriculture, Conservation and the Environment	Khabisi Mosunkutu	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Housing	Nomvula Mokonyane	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Public Transport, Roads and Works	Ignatius Jacobs	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Sport, Art, Culture and Recreation	Barbara Creecy	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Community Safety	Firoz Cachalia	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Local Government	Qedani Mahlangu	2008	2009	ANC
MEC for Social Development	Kgaogelo Lekgoro	2008	2009	ANC

Mokonyane premiership: 2009–2014

On 8 May 2009, pursuant to the 2009 general election, newly elected Premier Nomvula Mokonyane announced the new Gauteng Executive Council.^[17][18] A month later, on 9 June, she announced that Nandi Mayathula-Khoza had been appointed MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development following the resignation of Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.^[19]

On 2 November 2010, Mokonyane announced a major cabinet reshuffle, which she said she had devised "after consultations with the provincial leadership" of the ANC.^[20] However, it was widely believed that Mokonyane had been forced to make the changes by allies of former Premier Paul Mashatile, who had recently beaten Mokonyane in an election for the position of Provincial Chairperson of the Gauteng ANC.^[21][22] On 16 July 2012, Mokonyane announced another reshuffle, affecting four portfolios and occasioned by the resignation of Local Government and Housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi.^[23] In August 2013, Eric Xayiya was appointed to replace Economic Development MEC Nkosiphendule Kolisile, who died in a car accident in July 2013.^[24]

Gauteng Executive Council 2009–2014

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	Nomvula Mokonyane	2009	2014	ANC
MEC for Finance	Mandla Nkomfe	2009	2014	ANC
MEC for Health and Social Development	Hope Papo	2012	2014	ANC
	Ntombi Mekgwe	2010	2012	ANC
	Qedani Mahlangu	2009	2010	ANC
MEC for Education	Barbara Creecy	2009	2014	ANC
MEC for Economic Development	Mxolisi Eric Xayiya	2013	2014	ANC
	Nkosiphendule Kolisile	2012	2013	ANC
	Qedani Mahlangu	2010	2012	ANC
	Firoz Cachalia	2009	2010	ANC
MEC for Community Safety	Faith Mazibuko	2010	2014	ANC
	Khabisi Mosunkutu	2009	2010	ANC
MEC for Local Government and Housing	Ntombi Mekgwe	2012	2014	ANC
	Humphrey Mmemezi	2010	2012	ANC
	Kgaogelo Lekgoro	2009	2010	ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development	Nandi Mayathula-Khoza	2009	2014	ANC
	Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko	2009	2009	ANC
MEC for Roads and Transport	Ismail Vadi	2010	2014	ANC
	Bheki Nkosi	2009	2010	ANC
MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture	Lebogang Maile	2010	2014	ANC
	Nelisiwe Mbatha-Mthimkhulu	2009	2010	ANC
MEC for Infrastructure Development	Qedani Mahlangu	2012	2014	ANC
	Bheki Nkosi	2010	2012	ANC
	Faith Mazibuko	2009	2010	ANC

Makhura premiership

First term: 2014–2019

On 23 May 2014, pursuant to the 2014 general election, newly elected Premier David Makhura announced his new Executive Council.^[25] On 2 February 2016, he announced a reshuffle affecting three portfolios: Human Settlements, Social Development, and Infrastructure Development.^[26] In October 2015, he announced that Faith Mazibuko and Molebatsi Bopape would swap portfolios, with some adjustments to the portfolios themselves: Mazibuko became MEC for Sports, Heritage, Arts and Culture, and Bopape became MEC for Social Development.^[27]

In February 2017, Qedani Mahlangu resigned as Health MEC in the wake of the Life Esidimeni scandal, and Makhura appointed Gwen Ramokgopa to replace her.^[28] Finally, in March 2018, Uhuru Moiloa was appointed to the Executive Council to replace Paul Mashatile, who resigned to take up the full-time post of ANC Treasurer-General.^[29]

Gauteng Executive Council 2014–2019

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	David Makhura	2014	2019	ANC
MEC for Finance	Barbara Creecy	2014	2019	ANC
MEC for Health	Gwen Ramokgopa	2017	2019	ANC
	Qedani Mahlangu	2014	2017	ANC
MEC for Education	Panyaza Lesufi	2014	2019	ANC
MEC for Economic Development	Lebogang Maile	2014	2019	ANC
MEC for Infrastructure Development	Jacob Mamabolo	2016	2019	ANC
	Nandi Mayathula-Khoza	2014	2016	ANC
MEC for Community Safety	Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane	2014	2019	ANC
MEC for Transport	Ismail Vadi	2014	2019	ANC
MEC for Human Settlements and Local Government	Uhuru Moiloa	2018	2019	ANC
	Paul Mashatile	2016	2018	ANC
	Jacob Mamabolo	2014	2016	ANC
MEC for Sports, Heritage, Arts and Culture	Faith Mazibuko	2015	2019	ANC
MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture	Molebatsi Bopape	2014	2015	ANC
MEC for Social Development	Nandi Mayathula-Khoza	2016	2019	ANC
	Molebatsi Bopape	2015	2016	ANC
MEC for Agriculture, Environment, Rural Development and Social Development	Faith Mazibuko	2014	2015	ANC

Second term: 2019–2022

See also: 2019 Gauteng provincial election

On 29 May 2019, following the 2019 general election, Makhura announced his new Executive Council, to be sworn in the following day.^[30] Not reflected in the table is the fact that Panyaza Lesufi was initially appointed MEC for Finance and E-Government and Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko was initially MEC for Education:^[30] Makhura reversed these appointments two days later, acquiescing in public calls for Lesufi to remain in the education portfolio (where he had been installed in 2014) and therefore appointing Nkomo-Ralehoko as MEC for Finance and E-Government.^[30]

On 11 October 2019, Kgosientso Ramokgopa resigned as MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment and was replaced by Morakane Mosupyoe;^[31] on 19 June 2020, Nomathemba Mokgethi became MEC for Social Development, filling a vacancy left by Thuliswa Nkabinde-Khawe's death in November 2019.^[32] On 2 December 2020, Makhura announced a reshuffle affecting three portfolios – Economic Development, Social Development, and Health – after the former MEC for Health, Bandile Masuku, was fired amid a COVID-19 procurement scandal.^[33]

Gauteng Executive Council 2019–2022

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	David Makhura	2014	2022	ANC
MEC for Finance and E-Government	Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko	2019	2022	ANC
MEC for Health	Nomathemba Mokgethi	2020	2022	ANC
	Bandile Masuku	2019	2020	ANC
MEC for Education	Panyaza Lesufi	2019	2022	ANC
MEC for Economic Development	Parks Tau	2020	2022	ANC
MEC for Economic Development, Agriculture and Environment	Morakane Mosupyoe	2019	2020	ANC
	Kgosientso Ramokgopa	2019	2019	ANC
MEC for Infrastructure Development and Property Management	Tasneem Motara	2019	2022	ANC
MEC for Community Safety	Faith Mazibuko	2019	2022	ANC
MEC for Public Transport and Road Infrastructure	Jacob Mamabolo	2019	2022	ANC
MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs	Lebogang Maile	2019	2022	ANC
MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation	Mbali Hlophe	2019	2022	ANC
MEC for Social Development	Morakane Mosupyoe	2020	2022	ANC
	Nomathemba Mokgethi	2020	2020	ANC
	Thuliswa Nkabinde-Khawe	2019	2019	ANC

Lesufi premiership: 2022–present

First term: 2022–2024

On 7 October 2022, the day after he replaced Premier David Makhura, Premier Panyaza Lesufi appointed a new Executive Council in which he retained seven of Makhura's MECs but transferred them to new portfolios. His Executive Council comprised himself and ten additional members.^[34]

Gauteng Executive Council 2022–2024

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	Panyaza Lesufi	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Finance	Jacob Mamabolo	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Health and Wellness	Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Education	Matome Chiloane	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Economic Development and Tourism	Tasneem Motara	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Safety and Security	Faith Mazibuko	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Transport and Logistics	Kedibone Diale	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and E-Governance	Mzikayifane Khumalo	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Human Settlements and Infrastructure	Lebogang Maile	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Sport, Art, Culture and Recreation	Morakane Mosupyoe	2022	2024	ANC
MEC for Social Development	Mbali Hlophe	2022	2024	ANC

Second term: 2024–present

After the ANC lost its majority in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Lesufi was voted to return to office as premier of the province with the support of the Democratic Alliance on 14 June 2024. The parties negotiated and attempted to form a "Provincial Government of Unity" but negotiations ultimately collapsed in early-July 2024 which led to Lesufi announcing his executive council comprising members of the African National Congress, the Patriotic Alliance, the Inkatha Freedom Party, the Inkatha Freedom Party, and Rise Mzansi on 3 July 2024. Lesufi said that he intends to lead a minority government, while the DA has said that it will take up its position as the official opposition again.^[35]

Gauteng Executive Council 2024–present

Post	Member	Term		Party
Premier of Gauteng	Panyaza Lesufi	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for e-Government	Bonginkosi Dhlamini	2024	Incumbent	IFP
MEC for Finance and Economic Development	Lebogang Maile	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation	Matome Chiloane	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for Health and Wellness	Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for Roads and Transport	Kedibone Diale-Tlabela	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for Human Settlements	Tasneem Motara	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for Social Development	Faith Mazibuko	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development	Vuyiswa Ramokgopa	2024	Incumbent	Rise Mzansi
MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs	Jacob Mamabolo	2024	Incumbent	ANC
MEC for Environment	Sheila Mary Peters	2024	Incumbent	PA

See also

• Template: Gauteng Executive Council
• Government of South Africa
• Constitution of South Africa
• Transvaal province

References

1. South Africa: Campaign and Election Report April 26–29, 1994. International Republican Institute. 1994. Retrieved 13 April 2023 – via Yumpu.
2. "Jabulani Moleketi, Mr". South African Government. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
3. "Mondli Gungubele, Mr". South African Government. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
4. "Top dogs and underdogs". The Mail & Guardian. 20 October 2000. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
5. "Just the woman for the job". The Mail & Guardian. 10 June 1994. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
6. "Who did the talking?". The Mail & Guardian. 5 November 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
7. "Former housing MEC under probe for assault". IOL. 27 April 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
8. "Nomvula Paula Mokonyane". South African Government. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
9. "Obituary: Jessie Duarte". South African Government. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
10. "NCOP chairperson dies". IOL. 21 November 2004. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
11. "The Premier's Profile: Premier Mashatile". Gauteng Online. 2008. Archived from the original on 25 May 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
12. "Sicelo Shiceka, Mr". South African Government. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
13. "Uproar over new Gauteng cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 25 June 1999. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
14. Furness, Jenny (30 April 2004). "Four new faces in Shilowa's team". Engineering News. SAPA. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
15. "New MECs upbeat about working in Gauteng". IOL. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
16. "Paul Mashatile's inauguration address". Politicsweb. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
17. "Gauteng Department of Community Safety welcomes new MEC: Elias Khabisi Mosunkutu | South African Government". South African Government. 13 May 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
18. "Mokonyane sticks to gender promise". City of Johannesburg. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 14 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
19. "Premier appoints new MEC | South African Government". South African Government. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
20. "Premier Nomvula Mokonyane announces new Gauteng Cabinet". South African Government. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
21. "Power falls to Paul in Gauteng". News24. 7 November 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
22. "Much arm twisting over Gauteng cabinet". The Mail & Guardian. 5 November 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
23. "Health MEC takes over from Mmemezi". News24. 16 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
24. "Gauteng has new MEC for economic development". Business Day. 13 August 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
25. "Media release on the appointment of the members of the Executive Council of the Gauteng Provincial Government by Premier David Makhura". South African Government. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
26. "Gauteng Cabinet reshuffle to track implementation". South African Government News Agency. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
27. "Premier reshuffles cabinet but only swop the MECs". Randburg Sun. 23 October 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
28. "'It's challenging‚' admits new Gauteng Health MEC‚ Gwen Ramokgopa". Sunday Times. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
29. "Uhuru Moiloa replaces Paul Mashatile in Gauteng executive". Sunday Times. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
30. "These are Gauteng's new MECs". News24. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
31. "Kgosientso Ramokgopa resigns from Gauteng cabinet, Makhura names successor". News24. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
32. Tandwa, Lizeka (19 June 2020). "Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi appointed new Gauteng social development MEC". News24. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
33. Madisa, Kgothatso (2 December 2020). "Parks Tau is Gauteng's economic development MEC as Makhura strengthens his cabinet". Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
34. Masungwini, Norman (8 October 2022). "Gauteng's new premier Panyaza Lesufi rings the changes, drops two MECs". City Press. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
35. Thorne, Seth (3 July 2024). "Minority Gauteng cabinet announced – with DA in the opposition benches". BusinessTECH. Retrieved 4 July 2024.