The Eastern Cape's government's newest Members of the Executive Committee were sworn in late Friday afternoon at a ceremony at State House in the provincial capital Bhisho.
Among those to take the oath of office was ANC provincial chairperson, Lubabalo Mabuyane, who is the new MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism as well as Treasury.
His provincial deputy, Mlungisi Mvoko, SACP provincial secretary, Xolile Nqata and Deputy Speaker, Bulelwa Tyuniswas, are the other new additions to the team.
Speaking afterwards, Mabuyane said he's humbled at his appointment to the Provincial Executive Committee.
Mabuyane, who said he had experience with two of portfolios, says the Department of Economic Development must be turned around.
"That Department must be the epicentre of economic development in the province. It must actually facilitate all the economic activities across the Departments," he said.
Mabuyane said that they must also facilitate "integrated planning on all matters of economic development", saying Department were working in silos and not making an impact on service delivery.
He said in the early 2000's the province was also aggressive on infrastructure development and this needs to be reignited. "We definitely need to look for catalysts to stimulate economic growth of our province. We have lost about R13bn because of migration of people out of the province and we need to take the census seriously," he said.
In a wide-ranging statement to Algoa FM News, Mabuyane spoke about addressing the "mud schools" issue in the province, improving the road networks as a catalyst for economic development, and the oceans economy.
Mabuyane said the Province also need to address the issue of Xolobeni on the Wild Coast where local communities have been engaged in a long-running battle in the courts and elsewhere to stop plans to mine titanium on the dunes of the Xolobeni.
He said communities should not be divided on this issue.
Meanwhile, former Economic Development MEC, Sakhumzi Somyo, issued a lengthy statement on Friday following the cabinet reshuffle, saying that he is leaving behind "a Ministry that is intact, and that has worked tirelessly to achieve great results in the areas of job creation and economic transformation through our DEDEAT Group of Entities (East London Industrial Development Zone, Coega, Liquor Board, Gambling Board, Tourism and Parks Agency and ECDC).
"I have asked staff in both departments to embrace the new leader that is coming in and work with him diligently to build on what we have done throughout this term. I am quite certain that they would maintain the high moral and performance standards that they have displayed under my leadership and indeed strive to even surpass those standards," Somyo said.
He also wished Mabuyane will in his new role.
