Eastern Cape Premier Phumulo Masualle has announced changes to his cabinet late Thursday.
Masualle included ANC provincial chairperson, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, who is now the MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, who replaces Sakhumzi Somyo in that position.
The Premier's office said that following the September 2017 ANC Eastern Cape Provincial Elective Conference, new Provincial Office Bearers were elected to serve in the Eastern Cape ANC Provincial Executive Committee (PEC).
"Pursuant to this new political discourse, it became necessary to review the Provincial Government Executive Council (EXCO) and facilitate the deployment of some members of the new provincial leadership to serve in the Provincial Government Cabinet," Masualle said.
"This decision should allow for a smooth transition as the current 5th Administration winds down its term and prepares for a handing over to the incoming 6th Administration, ahead of the 2019 National and Provincial Elections," he said.
Changes to the Eastern Cape Provincial Government Executive Council (EXCO) are as follows:
o Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEA) & Provincial Treasury, Mr Lubabalo
Oscar Mabuyane
o Health, Ms Helen Sauls August
o Human Settlements, Mr Mlungisi Mvoko
o Public Works, Ms Pemmy Majodina
o Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Mr Xolile Edmund Nqatha
o Social Development, Dr Pumza Dyantyi
o Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), Ms Bulelwa Tunyiswa
Other MEC's retain their positions in Education, Roads and Transport and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Masualle said he would "wish to thank the outgoing members of the Provincial Executive Council (EXCO) for their loyalty and dedication to the people of the Eastern Cape, and I wish them well in their future endeavors."
Those who got the axe were Somyo, Mlibo Qoboshiyane and Nancy Sihlwayi and Thandiswa Marawu.
