ANC reshuffles leadership in parliament

The ANC took a hatchet to its parliamentary leadership today, sacking several portfolio committee chairs, including Lumka Yengeni, the wife of former chief whip Tony Yengeni, and Vytjie Mentor.

ANC deputy secretary-general Thandi Modise told reporters after the party’s last caucus meeting of the year that Mamagase Nchabeleng would replace the sometimes-belligerent Yengeni.

Mentor, whose leadership of the crucial public enterprises committee was controversial before she was reported recently to have solicited a free trip to China from Transnet, one of the corporations she was charged to oversee, will be replaced by Peter Maluleka from Gauteng.

Johnny de Lange, who has had a chequered career including a stint as chairman of the justice committee and a term as deputy minister of justice, was appointed to chair the committee on water and the environment.

Many of the changes were a result of President Jacob Zuma’s cabinet reshuffle. These included the appointment of Luwellan Landers to replace Ngoako Ramatlhodi, who was appointed Deputy Minister of Correctional Services.

The full list of new appointments is as follows:

Defence and Military Veterans - Malusi Motimele

Higher Education - Ishmael Malale

Home Affairs - Maggy Maunye

Basic Education - Hope Malgas

Labour - Mamagase Nchabeleng

Public Enterprise - Peter Maluleka

Public Works - Catherine Mabuza

Water and Environment - Johnny de Lange

International Relations and Cooperation - Hargreaves Magama

Communications - Eric Kholwane

Arts and Culture - Thandile Sunduza

Justice - Luwellyn Landers

Energy - Sisa Njikelana

Joint Standing Committee on Defence - Jerome Maake

Women, Children and People with Disabilities - Dorothy Ramodibe

Chair of Caucus - Jerry Thibedi

House Chairs - Cedric Frolick and Fatima Hajaig