EFF Gauteng provincial chairperson Nkululeko Dunga has been appointed as Finance MEC in Gauteng.
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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi's move to appoint Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Gauteng leader, Nkululeko Dunga, as MEC for Finance in a move has drawn strong criticism from the DA and Freedom Front Plus (FF+).
The parties were commenting after it was announced that Dunga would be replacing Lebogang Maile, who has been reassigned to the education portfolio as part of a broader cabinet reshuffle that also included changes to health and social development.
The EFF said the appointment “confirms the EFF’s participation in the Government of Provincial Unity” and aligns with its long-standing position to enter government where its “cardinal pillars” are upheld, including the exclusion of the DA and VF Plus from governance arrangements.
The party expressed confidence in Dunga’s leadership, citing his tenure in the City of Ekurhuleni where he served as MMC for Finance, chaired the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, and led the EFF caucus.
Among the achievements listed were the insourcing of security guards and cleaners, a revenue collection campaign branded “Siyacima manje namhlanje” which recovered R350 million, and an increase in municipal cash reserves from R350 million to approximately R2.1 billion.
However, opposition parties have rejected both the appointment and the rationale behind it.
Gauteng DA leader Solly Msimanga said the reshuffle was driven by political considerations, accusing Lesufi of attempting to secure his position within the ANC and form alliances ahead of local government elections.
“Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s desperate attempt to keep his position as the provincial chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng has led him to reshuffle his cabinet,” Msimanga said.
He argued that the move would “not benefit the residents of Gauteng” and claimed it followed pressure from the EFF after Dunga’s removal as MMC for Finance in Ekurhuleni.
Msimanga also questioned Dunga’s fitness for office and criticised additional changes in the executive, including the portfolio swap involving Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, describing them as likely to worsen service delivery and linked to internal ANC dynamics ahead of the party’s provincial conference.
He further said the DA had not been consulted on governance arrangements in Gauteng and reiterated calls for lifestyle audits of all MECs, adding that the party would “closely monitor the work of the MEC for Finance and ensure that every rand spent is value for money”.
The FF+ also opposed the appointment, with Gauteng MPL Anton Alberts calling it “a serious mistake”.
Alberts alleged that Dunga’s removal from the City of Ekurhuleni in 2024 was due to poor performance and possible contraventions of the Municipal Finance Management Act, including a failure to submit audited financial statements.
“He, among other things, failed to submit the Metro’s 2023 audited financial statements, which resulted in the credit rating agency Moody’s downgrading the Metro to junk status,” Alberts said.
He described it as “ironic” that the ANC had removed Dunga from office in Ekurhuleni, only for Lesufi to appoint him to a key provincial role, warning that Gauteng risked “following in Ekurhuleni’s footsteps”.
Alberts added that Lesufi had indicated the appointment was aimed at bringing the EFF into the Government of Provincial Unity to secure a governing majority, but warned this would lead to further instability.
“The Freedom Front Plus is of the opinion that this appointment will result in even more instability for the government and the province,” he said.
The party said it would scrutinise Dunga’s work through the legislature’s finance oversight committee and seek an urgent engagement with the Premier.
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