Controversial former Director General for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Kgabo Mahoai has been appointed as the MEC for Finance in Limpopo Province.

Mahoai was fired as the director-general after he was found guilty of gross negligence, gross dereliction of duty and breach of legal obligation. President Cyril Ramaphosa requested the outgoing Dirco Minister Naledi Pandor to initiate an investigation into a botched land deal in New York, which cost the department R118 million in 2021. Mahoai at the time said that the New York deal to buy land that didn't exist was orchestrated and he allowed payments so that former Dirco Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane could "prevail". It was revealed that Mahoai did this without the required Treasury approval. This meant that Mahoai went ahead and signed the public-private partnership, an agreement that does not exist in the Public Finance Management Act and approved the payment.

In a twist of events, Mahoai is now back in the provincial government and will be handling the provincial treasury after being appointed by Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba yesterday. Ramathuba announced the appointment of Mahoai along with other new MEC's for the Limpopo province. Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has been appointed MEC of Education, Department of Health will be headed by former Elias Motsoaledi Municipality Speaker Dieketseng Masesi-Mashego, Basikopo Rogers Makamu retains his position at Cogta while Florence Radzilani has been moved to Social Development. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has been given to Jerry Maseko, Department of Economic Development is now headed by former Makhado Municipality mayor Tshitereke Matibe, Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure will be led by Sebatolo Rachoene, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development by Nakedi Kekana and the Department of Transport and Community Safety MEC by Violet Mathye.