Maruping Lekwene
{{short description|South African politician (born 1969)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Maruping Lekwene
| native_name =
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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
| successor1 =
| 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
| term_end1 =
| 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
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pa.org.za/person/maruping-matthews-lekwene/#experience Maruping Matthews Lekwene – People's Assembly]
- [http://www.ncpleg.gov.za/profile-mr-maruping-matthews-lekwene/ Mr Maruping Matthews Lekwene – Northern Cape Provincial Legislature (NCPL)]
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before= Mase Manopole}}
{{s-ttl|title=Northern Cape MEC for Health |years=2020–present}}
{{s-inc}}
|-
{{s-bef|before= Mac Jack}}
{{s-ttl|title=Northern Cape MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism |years=2019–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=Abraham Vosloo}}
{{s-end}}
{{Saul executive council}}
{{Northern Cape MPLs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lekwene, Maruping}}
Category:African National Congress politicians
Category:South African Communist Party politicians
Category:Members of the Northern Cape Provincial Legislature
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
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