Maruping Lekwene

{{short description|South African politician (born 1969)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Maruping Lekwene

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| honorific-suffix = MPL

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| office1 = Northern Cape MEC for Health

| premier1 = Zamani Saul

| term_start1 = 26 June 2020

| predecessor1 = Mase Manopole

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| office2 = Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism

| premier2 = Zamani Saul

| term_start2 = 29 May 2019

| term_end2 = 26 June 2020

| predecessor2 = Mac Jack

| successor2 = Abraham Vosloo

| office3 = Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature

| term_start3 = June 2014

| birthname = Maruping Matthews Lekwene

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|09|14|df=y}}

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| nationality = South African

| party = African National Congress
South African Communist Party

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| occupation = Politician

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Maruping Matthews Lekwene (born 14 September 1969) is a South African politician serving as the Northern Cape MEC for Health since June 2020. He has been a Member of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature for the African National Congress (ANC) since June 2014.{{cite news |last1=Kwon Hoo |first1=Sandi |title=Premier Saul reshuffles his cabinet |url=https://www.dfa.co.za/news/premier-saul-reshuffles-his-cabinet-49986166 |accessdate=28 June 2020 |newspaper=DFA |date=26 June 2020}} He was the MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism from May 2019 until June 2020.{{cite news |title=Northern Cape Premier Saul announces new cabinet |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/government/2136722/northern-cape-premier-saul-announces-new-cabinet/ |accessdate=23 December 2019 |newspaper=The Citizen |date=29 May 2019}} Lekwene is also the provincial chairperson of the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the ANC's deputy provincial secretary.{{cite news |last1=Nkuyane |first1=Lucky |title=Long wait over for NC’s new executive council |url=https://ofm.co.za/article/centralsa/274888/long-wait-over-for-nc-s-new-executive-council |accessdate=23 December 2019 |newspaper=OFM |date=29 May 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Whittles |first1=Govan |title=Zamani Saul elected Northern Cape chairperson after shock withdrawal by Sylvia Lucas |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-05-12-zamani-saul-elected-northern-cape-chairperson-after-shock-withdrawal-by-sylvia-lucas-1 |accessdate=23 December 2019 |newspaper=Mail & Guardian |date=12 May 2017}}

Criticism

In December 2019, Lekwene announced that the trading hours of liquor stores in the Sol Plaatje Local Municipality would be extended during the ANC's 108th birthday celebrations from 8 to 11 January 2020. Under this notice, licensed liquor stores could trade for 24-hours during the period of the extension. The African National Congress Women's League (ANCWL) criticised this notice and called for it to be revoked. Lekwene later reversed the decision.{{cite news |last1=Ngatane |first1=Nthakoana |title=Liquor won't be sold 24 hours a day for ANC's January celebrations in NC |url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/12/29/liquor-won-t-be-sold-24-hours-a-day-for-anc-s-8-january-celebrations-in-nc-1 |accessdate=2 January 2020 |newspaper=EWN |date=29 December 2019 |location=Johannesburg}}{{cite news |title=ANC rejects amendment of liquor store trading hours by Northern Cape MEC for upcoming anniversary celebrations |url=https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/government/2222732/anc-rejects-amendment-of-liquor-store-trading-hours-by-northern-cape-mec-for-upcoming-anniversary-celebrations/ |accessdate=2 January 2020 |newspaper=The Citizen |date=27 December 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Ngqakamba |first1=Sesona |title=24-hour drinking spree? ANC rejects amendment of trading hours by Northern Cape MEC for upcoming anniversary celebrations |url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/24-hour-drinking-spree-anc-rejects-amendment-of-trading-hours-by-northern-cape-mec-for-upcoming-anniversary-celebrations-20191227 |accessdate=2 January 2020 |newspaper=News24 |date=27 December 2019}}

References

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