Gauteng African National Congress (ANC) chairperson and MP Paul Mashatile has been appointed MEC for Human Settlements, provincial Premier David Makhura announced on Tuesday evening.

“Bringing him back to Gauteng will help us at provincial government. I am very pleased to have recruited a powerful player like him who has vast experience in government. We need him here to strengthen Team Gauteng,” Makhura told reporters at a briefing in Johannesburg.

“We assess the performance of government on an ongoing basis and we have now come to the determination that we need to make a few changes in the executive council to strengthen the capacity of government to implement the programme for the transformation, modernisation, and re-industrialisation of Gauteng.”

Mashatile will replace Jacob Mamabolo, who has been appointed Infrastructure Development MEC.

Mashatile is presently an MP, and had previously served as Gauteng premier, as Deputy Minister of Finance and as Arts and Culture Minister.

Nandi Mayathula-Khoza was moved from Infrastructure Development to become Social Development MEC.

Last year, Makhura ordered a forensic investigation into allegations of misconduct, maladministration and corruption in the provincial department of sport, arts, culture and recreation under the control of MEC Molebatsi Bopape.

Makhura said at the time that he had received complaints from officials within the department, detailing allegations of misconduct and maladministration during Bopape’s tenure in office.

Late last year Bopape was moved to the Social Development portfolio before she was suspended pending the outcome of a forensic investigation.

“Molebatsi Bopape is no longer part of Team Gauteng. The investigation is currently underway…that process will run its course,” said Makhura.

Mashatile would resign from Parliament on Wednesday and would take up his new portfolio within two days, added Makhura.

“We expect this process to take at least two days. A member of the Gauteng legislature will be appointed to replace Mr Mashatile in Parliament.”