Premier Winde drops Mbombo, Fernandez, Allen from his cabinet

Premier Winde drops Mbombo, Fernandez, Allen from his cabinet

Three fresh faces have joined the Western Cape provincial cabinet after being announced and sworn in to office on Thursday.

Alan Winde was formally re-elected premier for a second five-year term at the first sitting of the seventh administration of the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP), where the speaker and deputy speaker were also officially elected.

Daylin Mitchell will assume his duty as newly elected WCPP speaker, while Reagen Allen stepped into his new role as deputy speaker.

Announcing his new cabinet members, Winde welcomed Deidre Baartman as MEC for Finance, Jaco Londt as MEC for Social Development, and Isaac Sileku as the new MEC for Mobility.

Anroux Marais shifts to MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, while MEC Mireille Wenger will take over duties in the Health and Wellness portfolio.

MEC David Maynier retained his position in the Education portfolio and Tertuis Simmers remains MEC for Infrastructure.

Ivan Meyer retained his position as MEC for Agriculture, with the added portfolio of Economic Development and Tourism.

Anton Bredell remains in his position as MEC for Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning.

Former Health and Wellness MEC Nomafrench Mbombo did not make the cut, while former Social Development MEC Sharna Fernandez did not return to the provincial parliament due to her retirement.

Winde said: “We are still faced with massive challenges but with help of my cabinet, the WCG team and the residents of this great province, we can fulfil the pledges we have made to keep growing our economy, enabling more jobs, making our province energy-secure and a dignified place where all residents have the opportunities and support that they need to thrive,” said Winde.

Baartman said she was excited to assume her role. She has served as a member of the provincial parliament since 2019 and was the chairperson of both the standing committee on finance, economic opportunities and tourism and the budget committee.

“My aim is to focus on fiscal stability ... but also to ensure that the budgetary processes peak to uplifting as many people as possible out of poverty,” said Baartman.

“In the previous fiscal provincial equitable share formula, we have seen the census data has not been phased in to the budgetary processes, while the province is the third largest population now ... we are not asking for our unfair share, we are asking for our fair share of the provincial equitable share formula that gets determined by the National Treasury.

Marais said she wanted to ensure a sustainable safety network and safe communities in her new duties in the community safety and police oversight directorate.

She said they would forge forward with the plan for provincial devolution of powers as they continue their work for safer communities.

“Our communities are not just in the metro but also in our rural areas like Matzikamma and Klawer. We must work with our communities and build sustainable relationships,” said Marais.

Speaker Mitchell said respect for legislative institutions will grow when people are informed about what legislatures are doing and are able to participate.

“We should not take our positions for granted but work towards the improvement of our institution all the time,” said Mitchell.

“To this end, I shall ensure that the constitutional responsibilities of the WCPP namely, law-making, oversight of the executive and public involvement in our processes and work of the provincial parliament are fully fulfilled and intensified.”

Cape Times