BLOEMFONTEIN — Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff axed two MECs yesterday, including the provincial chairman of the ANC, Ace Magashule.

Both would remain members of the Free State Legislature, provincial spokesman Attie Roux said here.

He said the premier would announce their successors later.

Two other MECs are to swop posts. Local Government and Housing MEC Benny Kotsoane will take over from Joel Mafereka at the Department of Science, Sport, Arts and Culture. Mafereka will take the Local Government portfolio.

Marshoff said the reshuffle was aimed at “bettering service delivery” in the province.

Andries Botha, Free State DA leader, called Marshoff’s move yesterday “a declaration of war”.

“The DA believes that Premier Beatrice Marshoff now feels strong enough to throw down the gauntlet,” said Botha.

“Mafereka has been moved to local government in a belief that with his strong personality he will be able to stifle the smouldering unrest at local government level.”

Botha said the premier’s “mindboggling demotion” of Magashule made it impossible for Mafereka to succeed in handling the crisis.

Magashule’s grassroots popularity would work against Mafereka’s success.

The DA was also convinced that Malakoane was never given the opportunity to run his department.

“Malakoane had to constantly cope with interference from the premier’s sphere of support.”

Botha said all the changes to the executive council would r mean little to the Free State.

“Most of the senior members of the ANC have already had the change to be members of the executive council, and failed to make a success of it.

“While President Thabo Mbeki seems to have great success in the Ivory Coast, he clearly cannot keep peace in the Free State,” Botha said.

Free State ACDP leader Casper Nordier said the logic behind the resignations needed to be explained.

“Stronger personalities, better strategic planning and better service delivery are reasons given, but this clearly serves as a smokescreen,” Nordier said.

He also questioned Magashule’s removal.

“The question that needs to be asked is how this will impact the people of the Free State,” he said.

“Magashule is still the ANC chairman with a strong and wide support group on ground level.”

Abrie Oosthuizen, Free State leader of the Freedom Front Plus, said Magashule’s removal was a sure indication that everything was not well within the ANC in the Free State. — Sapa