POLOKWANE, Wednesday 2 September 2026 — Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba has removed three MECs and appointed three new members to her provincial executive, including two senior ANC provincial officials who have moved from local government weeks before South Africa’s municipal elections.
The reshuffle is Ramathuba’s first major reconstitution of the Limpopo Executive Council since the seventh provincial administration took office in 2024.
Former Mopani District Municipality executive mayor Pule Shayi has been appointed MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, while former Fetakgomo-Tubatse mayor Eddie Maila becomes MEC for Health.
Both men were sworn in as members of the Limpopo Provincial Legislature on Wednesday before assuming their executive positions.
Their appointments carry additional political significance ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
Shayi had been serving as executive mayor of Mopani District Municipality and has now vacated that position, creating a leadership change in local government during the final phase of the municipal election campaign.
Maila previously served as mayor of Fetakgomo-Tubatse Local Municipality.
Both also hold senior positions in the African National Congress‘s Limpopo organisation.
Maila is the ANC’s provincial treasurer, while Shayi is the party’s deputy provincial secretary.
Ramathuba removed Dieketseng Mashego as MEC for Health, Jerry Maseko as MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture and Susani Violet Mathye as MEC for Transport and Community Safety.
Constance Kupa-Mabuza has been appointed MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture.
Nakedi Kekana moves from Agriculture and Rural Development to Transport and Community Safety, while Basikopo Makamu moves from Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs to Agriculture and Rural Development.
The portfolios of Education, Social Development, Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Finance and Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure remain under their existing MECs.
Ramathuba said the changes followed an assessment of the Executive Council’s performance and were intended to strengthen the provincial government’s ability to deliver services.
“There is always room for improvement and to better serve our people, we must ensure our team is agile, focused and ready to meet the evolving demands of our province,” she said.
The premier cited unemployment, poverty and difficulties accessing basic services among the challenges facing the province.
The EFF’s Limpopo leadership has characterised the reshuffle as politically motivated following the ANC’s provincial conference.
That is a political claim by an opposition party and has not been established as the reason for the changes.
The timing nevertheless places two senior ANC provincial officials into prominent government positions shortly before municipal voters go to the polls.
Shayi’s departure from the Mopani mayoralty is particularly relevant to the municipal election because it changes the political leadership of a district municipality while parties are campaigning for control of councils across Limpopo.
The ANC remains the dominant municipal party in the province, but the November election will test whether it can retain that position amid growing competition from opposition parties.
The Electoral Commission of South Africa said separately on Wednesday that Polokwane is attracting particularly extensive competition, with 40 parties having submitted nominations to contest proportional-representation seats in the municipality.
The immediate municipal consequence of Ramathuba’s reshuffle will now be the process for replacing Shayi at Mopani District Municipality, while the new MECs take control of provincial portfolios that include health and oversight of local government.
