According to a statement  released by Gauteng Premier David Makhura to ENCA, Panyaza Lesufi will return to the Education portfolio as the MEC for Education and Youth Development.

Earlier this week Lesufi was announced as the new Finance and e-Government MEC. 

Makhura said in a statement that he has taken the decision to place Lesufi back in his position as Gauteng Education MEC after careful consideration.

read the statement.

MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, formerly Education MEC, will now head the Finance and e-Government portfolio.

Ironically, on Wednesday during a team lunch, I stated my view that for Panayza the move to Finance was a bad move, with the intention of removing him from the spotlight. Out of all the provincial heads of education including even the minister of Education, Angie Motshekga, he has been at the centre of the aggressive reform within the education space and has risen as Education South Africa's rockstar. The man's passion, charisma and human touch are endearing qualities that the Financeportfolio would not give a space to utilize for the benefit of a social change in Gauteng. 

Makhura's move to reverse his earlier cabinet reshuffle signals political pressure from the ANC and the alliance partners. It is clear that the move indicates Panayza's pursuit for a legacy project that he can use that will propel his future campaign of taking over the chairpersonship of the ANC in Gauteng and Premiership after Makhura!

-JP