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The Head of Department for Gauteng CoGTA, Ms Thandeka Mbassa, today welcomed the new MEC for Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements, Mr Dikgang Moiloa on behalf of the  Gauteng CoGTA staff.

Affectionately known as ‘Uhuru’, Moiloa, who was sworn in on Friday, 16 March 2018 by High Court Judge-President, Dunstan Mlambo, is replacing MEC Paul Mashatile after the latter was elected as Treasurer-General of the ANC in the party's December elective conference.

In welcoming MEC Moiloa, HOD Mbassa said that we are confident that he would lead the department to greater heights given his political and governance experience.

“We are confident that MEC Moiloa will continue with the work set in motion by his predecessor, such as dealing with, amongst others, serious challenges currently  faced by some struggling municipalities  in the province,” said Ms Mbassa.

MEC Moiloa has served in several positions within the ANC since the early 1990s where he was the ANC West Rand Sub-region Chairperson, Secretary and later Regional Treasurer. He also worked as the Regional Elections Manager, ANC Provincial Research and Policy Coordinator and a member of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee. From 1994 to 2005 he was Coordinator of the Elections Department of the ANC West Rand and in 2006 he was deployed as ANC Gauteng Provincial Elections Coordinator.

Hon  Moiloa was the founding members of the Congress for SA Students (COSAS) in 1979 and  later became an active member of the United Democratic Front (UDF). He is also a former Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) combatant and was detained and tortured by the former apartheid regime.

A Member of the Legislature since 1999, Moiloa has held such positions as Party Whip and Chairperson of the Public Participation and Petitions Committee. In 2007, he was deployed as Chairperson of the Economic Development Committee. In 2009 after the elections, he was again deployed as the Chairperson of Committees in the Gauteng Legislature. He also participated in various development courses, which he completed as Member of the Legislature. His studies have included Micro and Macro Economics, Public Economics and Finance and Project Management. His most recent portfolio was that of Deputy Speaker for the Gauteng Province Legislature.

Hon Moiloa has completed an advanced course in Public Policy and Development Management with the University of Stellenbosch and is currently enrolled for an Honours programme in Public and Development Management. He is also studying for an advanced programme in Economics and Public Finance with the University of South Africa.

“We are honoured and privileged to receive [you] MEC at this time when we are dealing with several issues relating to local governance and also the traditional leadership in the province. We are also in full swing preparing for the next general elections, come 2019. With your leadership, experience and guidance MEC, we will take our mandate levels to greater progression indeed,“ said HOD Mbassa.

During a meeting with the HoDs of both CoGTA and Human Settlements which took place on 16 March 2018, MEC Moiloa said that he was looking forward to meeting with CoGTA staff in order to get a full briefing and understanding of the Department’s business.

Issued by Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs