A disagreement regarding the suspension of North West Community Safety and Transport Management Head of Department (HOD) Dr Hans Kekana emerged, characterized by differing narratives from Premier Lazarus Mokgosi and MEC Wessel Morweng.
While Kekana was initially suspended by Morweng on 3 February 2026 following his alleged failure to resolve long-standing airport issues and a lack of service delivery – with GD Montshioa (Mahikeng) airport being at the centre of controversy involving “illegal” occupations and mismanagement, Mokgosi has allegedly overruled Morweng’s decision and instructed Kekana to go back to work, on 4 February 2026.
The suspension of Kekana led to a direct conflict between Morweng and Mokgosi, and sparked a debate about who has the executive authority over the province and power to suspend an HOD.
A source within the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) claimed the MEC usually has the authority to suspend an HOD, often in consultation with the Premier.
Mokgosi’s letter to Dr Kekana on his suspension:
“I am in receipt of correspondence from the North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport Management, Wessel Morweng dated 3 February 2026, purportedly suspending you from work. Kindly take notice that the career incidents of all Head of Departments is vested exclusively in the Premier as stipulated in Section 12 of the Public Service Act, 1994 this power entails the appointment, suspension, discipline and transfers or secondment of HODs. “Accordingly, the MEC has no power or duty to suspend you from work. Given the legislative power, you are directed to report for duty as the MEC is not empowered in law to suspend or put you through a disciplinary process in the absence of such power having been delegated to him,” writes Mokgosi.
According to The Guardian Newspaper Morweng wrote another letter late at night on 5 February 2026, informing Mokgosi that his decision to suspend Kekana stands.
Media reports indicated that Morweng reported the matter to the ANC provincial leadership for intervention.
“Look, even the ANC Provincial Chairperson, Nono Maloyi, was very clear that as the organisation, we need to be forthright in implementation of what we promised our people. When there are some challenges, it is not the Head of the Department (HOD), who must account to the people. The politicians such as mayors, MECs and Premier are held accountable because those are public representatives.
“These are the individuals who the people cast their votes for to become their leaders. What we should ask ourselves is, what is that the politicians do in the institutions, if there is no service delivery. So, that is why I opted to take that decision to place Kekana on precautionary leave pending investigation. Kekana is suspended for failure to implement the airports, which is a thorny issue,” Morweng said.
The province faces several significant challenges regarding its aviation infrastructure and management:
• Private aviation schools were found to be operating at the airport without valid lease agreements or paying rent for years.
• Reports emerged of planes landing without the department’s knowledge, leading to concerns from the Provincial Legislature about potential illegal activities.
• Millions in potential revenue were lost due to failure to collect rent and utility payments from entities using the facility. Morweng has expressed frustration that despite the potential for job creation, the refurbishment and full functionality of the province’s airports remain stalled.
“There is interest everywhere and I am inundated with calls regarding the refurbishment of airports. The project can create millions of jobs in the province. However, you will tell me that we must just sit and become a business as usual?
“As government, we keep on promising people a better life. The root causes of our failure in the main, but not in all aspects, are administrators. Hence I have arrived at that decision to
suspend Kekana. The technicalities of whether I have powers or not, I have expressed them in my communication with the Premier, including the organisation,” said Morweng.
