Alfred Moselakgomo

Alfred Moselakgomo

Mpumalanga Premier Thabang Makwetla has been accused of being obsessed with chopping and changing his cabinet every year - at the expense of service delivery.

DA leader Anthony Benadie was reacting to Wednesday's reshuffle, which saw health and social services MEC William Lubisi being fired and Jackson Mthembu, the ANC provincial chief whip, appointed roads and transport MEC.

"The cabinet reshuffle has become a prominent feature of the Makwetla legacy, with the chopping and changing of MEC's taking place almost every year," Benadie said.

He said under the circumstances his party believed that Makwetla should be removed as premier.

On Wednesday, Makwetla reshuffled his cabinet for the third time in three years.

Jabu Mahlangu was removed as culture, sports and recreation MEC and moved to the finance department, which was headed by Mmathulare Coleman.

Coleman has been moved to the education department. Former education MEC Siphosezwe Masango was moved to the safety and security department.

Former roads and Transport MEC David Mabuza was moved to the agriculture and land administration department.

Former safety and security MEC Fish Mahlalela was moved to the health and social services department.

Former agriculture and land administration MEC Dina Pule was moved to the culture, sport and recreation department.

Cosatu said it was also concerned about the reshuffle.

Provincial secretary Norma Mokoena said: "It's obvious that the new MEC's will take time to find their feet and before they know it the 2009 elections will be on us.

"We don't think there was any reason for this reshuffle because there is no crisis in the province."

The premier's spokesman, Ntime Skhosana, dismissed the DA's cricism, saying it should get its political priorities in order.

"They cannot govern through the back door. The Constitution allows the premier to rearrange or restructure his team in favour of service delivery," Skhosana said.