The political landscape of the Free State is set for a significant change as MaQueen Letsoha Mathae, the current MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, is poised to be sworn in as the province’s new premier on Friday (14/6).

This appointment will see Mathae replace Mxolisi Dukwana, the ANC’s provincial chairperson.

The ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) has endorsed Mathae for the premiership, signalling yet another leadership change in the province. This comes just a year after Dukwana replaced Sisi Ntombela as head of the province, months before the national elections.

Mathae and three other ANC members were recently sworn in as new Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs), filling the vacancies left by Ntombela, Jabulani Radebe, Polediso Motsoeneng, and the late Tate Makgoe, who served as Education MEC.

In a sweeping move, the ANC NEC released a list of new appointments for the positions of premiers across several provinces. Notably, Kagiso Lazarus Mokgosi is set to replace Bushy Maape as Premier of North West, while Zamani Saul will retain his position in the Northern Cape. Other key appointments include Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane in the Eastern Cape, Andrek Hendrick "Panyaza" Lesufi in Gauteng, and Phophi Constance Ramathuba in Limpopo.

The ANC has emphasised the importance of gender representation in its appointments. The NEC’s directive states that where a male Premier is appointed in a province with an ANC majority, the Speaker should be a woman, and a majority of MECs should also be female.

Meanwhile, the Secretary to Parliament, Xolile George, announced that Members of Parliament (MPs) will be sworn in, and the election of the Speaker of the National Assembly and the President will take place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday. Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will oversee these proceedings.

For the first time in three decades, the ruling ANC failed to secure an outright majority, garnering only 40.1% of the vote, which led to the loss of 71 seats in the National Assembly. In contrast, the DA gained three seats with 21.8% of the vote while the MK Party, led by former President Jacob Zuma, surged past the EFF to become the third-largest party with 14.5% of the vote, securing 58 seats.

In light of these results, the ANC has initiated discussions with opposition parties to form a Government of National Unity, a move reminiscent of Nelson Mandela's administration in 1994.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg