Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane axed two Members of the Executive Council (MECs) in a Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, saying that it was necessary to "kill" the perception of two centres of power in the province.

"We are all here at the behest of the African National Congress (ANC)... [and] the ANC has new leadership in the province," she told reporters in Johannesburg.

"The internal democratic processes of the ANC will from time to time produce other people as part of the leadership and you need to consider it."

Mokonyane said she had to "look at the political prerogatives" in deciding about the reshuffle.

She said after the provincial elective conference in May - where her predecessor Paul Mashatile beat her to the post of provincial chairman - new leaders had emerged in the African National Congress who needed to be accommodated.

Mashatile was promoted to Arts and Culture Minister in a Cabinet reshuffle announced by President Jacob Zuma at the weekend.

Also at the weekend, the provincial executive committee (PEC) of the ANC met in Vanderbijlpark where Mokonyane reportedly opposed the idea of a reshuffle.

During the PEC meeting, the ANC gave her names of the members they wanted on the province's executive council.

She said there had been "consultations" since Thursday.

Asked if she would have done the reshuffle if she had not been told to do so by the ANC, Mokonyane replied: "You must create a balance, so you kill what has always been perceived as two centres of power...

"I had to act and do things in a manner that put the ANC first."

Her new cabinet created a planning commission to be headed by the now former economic development MEC Firoz Cachalia.

Community safety MEC Khabisi Mosunkutu was axed from the executive committee and replaced by Nonhlanhla Mazibuko.

Sport MEC Nelisiwe Moerane was also given the boot and replaced by Lebogang Maile, the ANC Youth League in Gauteng's chairman.

Cachalia will head the planning commission, while former health MEC Qedani Mahlangu will take over the economic development portfolio.

The new health MEC is Ntombi Mekgwe, a former mayor of Ekurhuleni.

Local government and housing MEC Kgaogelo Lekgoro was appointed as a political advisor. His MEC position will be filled by Humphrey Mmemezi, the deputy secretary of the ANC in Gauteng.

Barbara Creecy remains the education MEC, Mandla Nkomfe remains the finance MEC, and Nandi Mayathula-Khoza remains the agriculture and rural development MEC.

Bheki Nkosi, formerly the MEC for roads and transport, is the new MEC for infrastructure development.

Ismail Vadi, chairman of the portfolio committee of communication in Parliament, takes over as roads and transport MEC.