BREAKING | ANC NEC orders Makhura to drop one male MEC

Gauteng premier David Makhura will have to drop one male member of his executive committee in order to achieve 50/50 gender parity in his cabinet.

This was decided by the ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting which sat over four days starting from last Friday in Irene, Pretoria.

Two independent sources that attended the meeting confirmed to SowetanLIVE that the ANC Women's League raised their unhappiness that Makhura's executive was not in line with what the previous NEC meeting agreed to on the appointment of MEC's. 

The meeting at the end decided that Makhura had to drop one male MEC in order to appoint a woman, so that a 50/50 gender balance is achieved. 

However, ANC secretary general Ace Magashule is going to communicate ANC decisions today at noon.

After the elections, the NEC took a decision that all provincial governments should have equal number of men and women as MECs. But Makhura appointed five male MEC's and four women to his executive, which added up to a six to five ratio. 

At the time, it was the ANCWL president Bathabile Dlamini who pleaded that women should be given equal opportunity like men.

Aligning with the NEC resolution is going to be a headache for Makhura, who will have to decide on who he should remove.

The Gauteng executives currently serving under Makhura are Panyaza Lesufi as MEC for education, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko as MEC for finance and e-government, Faith Mazibuko as MEC for community safety, Lebogang Maile as MEC for human settlements, urban planning and Cogta, Thuliswa Nkabinde-Khawe as MEC for social development, Jacob Mamabolo as MEC for public transport and road infrastructure, Tasneem Motara as MEC for infrastructure development and property management, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as MEC for economic development, agriculture and environment, Mbali Hlophe as MEC for sport, arts, culture and recreation and Dr Bandile Masuku as MEC for health.

When he appointed his executive, SowetanLIVE understands that Makhura directly spoke to President Cyril Ramaphosa to try and accommodate the former City of Johannesburg mayor Parks Tau in national cabinet. Tau was subsequently appointed deputy minister of local government.

Spokesperson Pule Mabe was not immediately available for comment.