Gauteng MECs
23 March 2006
It is my pleasure to announce the two people who as from today assume office
as MECs for Health and Social Development in Gauteng respectively.
As you know, the two positions became vacant following the resignation of
the MEC for Social Development at the end of January and the election of Health
MEC, Dr Gwen Ramakgopa, as Mayor of Tshwane last week.
I have today appointed Brian Hlongwa as MEC for Health and Kgaogelo Lekgoro
as MEC for Social Development.
Mr Hlongwa has been a member of the City of Johannesburg Mayoral Committee
responsible for municipal services while Mr Lekgoro has been a Member of
Parliament and chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Communications.
Both have a long history of involvement in the democratic movement as well
as in driving governance and social development issues. Hlongwa brings years of
experience at local government level, while Lekgoro brings a national
perspective, having served in parliament since 1994.
This will stand us in good stead as we seek to further consolidate
intergovernmental relations in our province in building Gauteng as a globally
competitive city region and build effective and seamless government in our
common effort to improve the lives of our people.
Both Mr Hlongwa and Mr Lekgoro are well equipped to build on the good work
done so far and further accelerate delivery within their respective portfolios.
I have no doubt that their skills and experience will enhance Gauteng's
capacity to address the challenges of under-development, poverty and
unemployment in our province.
Our key focus in the next three years will be to ensure the effective
implementation of the commitments we made in 2004, including contributing to
halving unemployment and poverty by 2014. They are well positioned to make a
valuable contribution to Gauteng's executive team in this endeavour.
To Brian and Kgaogelo: welcome to team Gauteng!
PROFILE OF BRIAN HLONGWA
Brian Hlongwa was a member of the City of Johannesburg Mayoral Committee
responsible for municipal services from 2000 to 2006, when he was appointed as
MEC for Health in the Gauteng Provincial Government.
Prior to that, he was head of Johannesburg's corporatisation unit from 1998
to 2000 and executive officer for local economic development from 1996 to
1998.
Hlongwa has a long history of involvement in the struggle against apartheid
and in the democratic movement. He served as full-time organiser of the Soweto
Civic Association and the Soweto Youth Congress and was active in the student
and youth movement, where he was elected provincial chairperson of the South
African Youth Congress. He has served the African National Congress (ANC) in
various capacities and is currently a member of the Gauteng Provincial
Executive Committee of the ANC.
Hlongwa was managing director for Harmony Development and national
co-ordinator for Labour Intensive Projects Trust. He has a Diploma in
Management and Administration from the Wits Business School and certificates in
urban and property development, in public private partnerships and from the
University of Pretoria's municipal management development programme.
Hlongwa is married with three children.
PROFILE OF MPETJANE KGAOGELO LEKGORO
Kgaogelo Lekgoro has been a member of the National Assembly since 1994 where
he served as party whip and chairperson of the portfolio committee on
communication until his appointment as Gauteng MEC for Social Development.
Lekgoro has been a community activist since the late 1970s and has served
the democratic movement in various capacities. In the early 1980s he helped
establish democratic trade unions, civic and youth organisations and a
community newspaper in Tshwane.
He was a founder member of the South African Youth Congress (Sayco) and was
elected onto the national executive of Sayco and later the ANC Youth League. In
the 1980s he served in the provincial executive of the United Democratic
Front.
Lekgoro is currently a member of the Provincial Executive Committee of the
African National Congress in Gauteng.
He is married with four children.
For more information contact: Annette Griessel
Cell: 082 563 3614
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Gauteng Provincial Government
23 March 2006
