ANC veterans slam Lesufi’s cabinet reshuffle, question EFF’s Dunga as finance MEC

The ANC Veterans’ League says it is unhappy about the inclusion of the EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga into the provincial executive by Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

• The ANC Veterans’ League criticised Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi for appointing the EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga as MEC of Finance, citing past allegations of poor financial performance.
• The ANC Gauteng PTT supported the reshuffle, welcoming the EFF’s inclusion in the government of provincial unity, while the DA raised concerns over Dunga’s suitability.
• The EFF defended Dunga, expressing confidence in his leadership and commitment to advancing a people-centred fiscal agenda for Gauteng.

The ANC Veterans’ League has slammed Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s inclusion of the EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga in his provincial cabinet.

Lesufi announced changes to his cabinet this week, which saw the EFF joining the government of provincial unity, with the red berets’ provincial leader, Dunga, named as the new MEC of Finance.

The position was previously held by Lebogang Maile, who now heads the Department of Education. Matome Chiloane, who was the MEC of Education, was booted out of Lesufi’s cabinet.

In a statement on Sunday, the Veterans’ League president, Snuki Zikalala, said the league was “dismayed” by the inclusion of Dunga in the provincial executive.

“The premier of Gauteng is entrusting R179 billion into the hands of Dunga, who was relieved of his position in Ekurhuleni after allegations of poor financial performance and non-compliance. These moves bring no comfort to the residents of Gauteng, who expect their leadership to prioritise service delivery and stability.

READ | Gauteng power shifts: EFF rewarded for helping pass budget, ANCYL declares war on Lesufi

“The ANC Veterans’ League believes that coalition arrangements should be guided by the strategic framework for municipal coalitions approved by the ANC NEC in April 2023. This document states that ‘we must ensure that any coalition we are part of must be based on certain principles that must put the interests of the people first – a stable government with a minimum programme that can improve service delivery and push forward the transformation agenda’,” said Zikalala.

Dunga, who until this week was a councillor at the City of Ekurhuleni, was removed from his position as MMC of Finance by Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza in 2024.

Announcing his decision to remove Dunga, Xhakaza said it was “in light of unforeseen misalignments”.

While the ANC in Ekurhuleni, at the time, said Xhakaza had taken the decision following the governance update report, which pointed to “fundamental weaknesses in how the budget process has been handled”.

Zikalala said following a special meeting of the Veterans’ League, the league had decided:

However, on Wednesday, following Lesufi’s reshuffle, the ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team (PTT), which welcomed the decision by the premier, said the PTT saw the changes in the provincial executive as “a necessary and responsive step to ensure that government remains effective, focused, and capable of meeting the expectations of the people of Gauteng”.

In the statement, the spokesperson of the PTT, Mzi Khumalo, said the structure also thanked the ANC national officials who had allowed the PTT leadership to engage with various parties, leading to the reconfiguration of the provincial government.

“To this end, the ANC Gauteng PTT welcomes the decision of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to participate in the government of provincial unity (GPU),” said Khumalo.

And while Lesufi, during his press briefing where he announced a reshuffle in his cabinet, said he had consulted all political parties, DA Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga said his party was not consulted before the changes to the provincial cabinet.

Msimanga also raised reservations about Dunga taking up the position of provincial Treasury MEC after he had been removed from a similar position in Ekurhuleni. Msimanga said his removal as MMC of Finance in Ekurhuleni raised questions about his fitness to hold the position.

However, the EFF has rallied behind its deployee.

READ | EFF’s Nkululeko Dunga is new Gauteng finance MEC as Lesufi shuffles executive council

In a statement, the party said it had confidence in Dunga’s leadership capabilities, discipline, and ability to work within a collective while safeguarding and advancing the political programme of the EFF.

“The EFF is confident that, as MEC for Finance, Commissar Dunga will advance a people-centred fiscal agenda that prioritises service delivery, economic justice, and equality, while ensuring transparent and accountable management of public resources in the interest of the most marginalised,” said the EFF.

Giving supportive orders to Dunga, EFF leader Julius Malema took to X and wrote: “Politics is about patience and perseverance; your mandate is a clean audit and financial stability for the Gauteng Province. Congratulations, Commissar @DungaLeko, in you we trust. Ndaa.”